One Christ, One Church - John 17:22-23

    The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. - John 17:22-23

    “A Roman Catholic, a Baptist, and a Presbyterian were sitting on a park bench. . . .” you’ve heard at least one version of the story. But there is no joke to be told. As John’s Gospel tells us, we are all one in Christ, regardless of our Christian denomination. Remember that prior to the Reformation, there were only two Christian sects - the Western or Roman tradition and the Eastern or Orthodox tradition. This ‘Great Schism’ occurred in 1054 AD. Prior to this ‘East-West Schism’, there was one holy, apostolic, catholic church. The split in 1054 and in the years following the Reformation were internecine battles over doctrine and, in many cases, politics. Over the years, Christians allowed many adiaphoristic (inconsequential) issues to rise to the rank of critical importance to determine the primacy of one denomination’s faith over that of another. While truthful doctrine always matters, there are irrelevant issues that separate otherwise bona fide believers in Christ and His holy and apostolic church. That church is also ‘catholic’ in the genuine sense of the word, meaning ‘universal,’ not necessarily Roman.  
    The defining of ‘the church’ resolutely depends on one central person - Jesus Christ. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” - Matthew 16:18.
    Christ never once says He will build His churches. His claim is not pluralistic; it is singular - His church. So who will make up Christ’s congregation? Everyone who believes that Christ is the Son of God, Redeemer, and Savior. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 12:13. Our membership in God’s church transcends race, color, and ethnicity. It is in Christ’s name alone that we are the church.
    The ecumenical movement does not include Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Wicca, or any other non- Christo-centric religion. It is all in Christ alone. Solo Christo! There is only one criterion that Jesus Himself pointed to during His earthly ministry - “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - Matthew 18:20. This is where we find Christ.We do not find Him in the meandering imaginations of unbiblical people.
    Ecumenically, we respect each other despite our denominational differences. As Paul taught - “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” - Ephesians 4:1-6. This is Christ’s church!
    We must stop bickering with one another about the trite differences between our denominations so long as what we are referring to does not specifically deny ‘Christ is the head of the church.’ Is the ‘believer’s baptism’ more lawful than paedo-baptism? Should a woman cover her head upon entering a church? Should a man? Does drinking alcohol violate the sanctity of God’s Word? Is one liturgical form more acceptable to God than another? Do human institutions trump the Word of God under any circumstance? These issues, and many more like them, often divide Christians and keep us from the unity that God demands of us.
    In closing, we must keep I mind it is God who calls us together and not one pastor or  another.“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 1:1-5.