Story by Scotty Gray.
God’s word consistently makes references to “the body” – referring of course, to those who call ourselves Christians.
Using that metaphor, we know a body, although one unit, is comprised of many unique parts, each with a specific purpose. Sadly, however, unlike the parts of a human body, where each part does its job for the benefit of the whole, it’s pretty clear that the “body of Christ” seems to have a difficult time even coexisting let alone working for the benefit of the body.
Denominations, and even factions within denominations, have decided they are smarter, more righteous, more in tune with God’s word than the rest of the body. How did they get to this lofty position? Usually by elevating one portion of God’s word into some “golden key” that allows their group to be more right, and therefore, closer to God.
I once had a very close friend who was part of a church which taught that speaking in tongues was the only evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within someone. Without tongues – you’ve failed to meet God’s standards and therefore are less saved, if you even are saved at all. One day, on a weekend retreat, my friend sat with a small circle of people on the floor, babbling incoherently to the delight of all. She shared how the pressure to “speak in tongues” was so great within that denomination, she felt forced into the deception.
Had this denomination used the whole of scripture, instead cherry-picking theology, they would have clearly seen that private “spirit language” is not the tongues referred to at Pentecost.
In Acts 2 it states, “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. Now there were jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. The crowd came together, and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”
The chapter goes on to say: “there are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit who gives them. The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all. He gives to each person as he wants to give.”
1 Corinthians 12: 7 thru 11.
7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. 8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. 9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. 11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.
Another questionable doctrine I often heard was the word “saint.” This title was always ascribed to some Christ follower, who was given that title by the HIERARCHY within our denomination. I wondered what the point was of giving someone that elevated name.
The word “saint” or “saints” comes from the Greek word “hagios,” meaning “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious.” Both words always refer to people here on earth. Scripturally speaking, “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints, and at the same time are called to be saints.
How does my old church’s use of the word “saints” compare with the biblical teaching? Not very well. In that church’s theology, saints are in heaven. In the Bible however, saints are on earth.
For example, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: chapter1: verses 1&2.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians, Paul calls all Believers “saints”: “To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints, with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, who is theirs and ours.”
In that church, a person does not become a saint unless he or she is “beatified” or “canonized” by specific people of prominence within the church. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint. In that church, these saints are revered, and although the higher-ups in the church deny this, they are prayed to, and in some instances, worshiped. I have seen images of people kneeling or lying prostrate before statues of Mary. Even angels told people not to bow before them, knowing this reverence is reserved for God alone.
And let’s remember, there is no scriptural basis for Mary being “assumed”, or bodily taken up into heaven, or that she had only one child, Jesus (was born of the Holy Spirit, not of Joseph), so she is forever a virgin – those, too, are unbiblical traditions of my old church.
So here’s my point. Christianity is actually very simple. Accept that you are a sinner, both by spiritual genetics and by your own actions; accept the gift of salvation from Jesus; then live in freedom and tell others about the amazing gift of eternal life you’ve been given – evangelize. To quote theologian Daniel T. Niles, “Evangelism is witness. It is one beggar telling another beggar where to get food.”
…and while you’re living in this amazing freedom, stay in communication with your Creator through prayer, reading His word for His truth and, staying in fellowship with other members of His family…the saints. Don’t let the “traditions of men” weigh you down – you’ll be plenty busy doing the things God wants you doing until He takes you home.
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