Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community

Why do we think we must always agree on every issue in the church or it is grounds for division?  The truth is we will never get everything right and our doctrines and dogmas are not prefect.  If our hearts beats in love for Jesus, then we can join hands and walk together in fellowship.  As the church of Christ we claim one Lord, one Faith, One baptism, but there are over 30,000 Protestant denominations and many reject every other denomination but their own.  We have adopted a false narrative that says, “If you do not look like us, act like us, worship like us or think like us, we are not obligated to have fellowship with you.”   How this must grieve the Father.  Exclusion somehow makes us feel safe that we have kept the false teachers out but maybe the core of our fear is the desire to control.  “We overcome those fears by becoming people who know they are forgiven and being formed by God’s love.”  We don’t have to agree on every issue. The true narrative may be like this: If you do not look, act, worship or believe as I do, but you heart beats in love for Jesus, then regardless of our differences, we can and must have fellowship with one another.”  This allows for disagreement but not division. Our central belief is Jesus is Lord!  He unites us!