When I was doing a programme in a university owned by one of the mainline denominational churches in Nigeria, we had a class made up of a few pentecostal preachers and priests of that denomination most of whom were the largest.
In Nigeria, churches belong to what we call blocks. Most of those churches we call "orthodox" (though we are orthodox too) belong to a block while pentecostal churches belong to another block.
On one of the days in the university chapel, my room mate told me they excluded those who are not from their block from taking communion saying anyone who has not been consecrated by a bishop is not worthy of taking the communion.
This infuriated those who belong to the pentecostal circle because they felt alienated. In fact, it shows how divided we are and it is another way of saying, "If you are not in our group/caucus, your salvation is not authentic". I believe salvation is what qualifies for the communion not denominational affiliation.
In the opening text, we saw the disciples complaining to Jesus about someone they saw who was casting out demons in his name but was not in their group. Probably, they attempted to stop him but Jesus warned them not to stop him.
I am trying to read their minds. They thought they were the only authentic followers of Jesus and anyone who performs miracle or tries to cast out demon without belonging to their group should be stopped. They thought they had Jesus to themselves exclusively and no one else should.Thank God Jesus responded well.
Some of us are like that today. We think our church is the only church ordained and commissioned by God. Some have taken it too far to make it look like people from some church circles are not born again and can never be. Their denominational mindset is just so myopic that they can't see God elsewhere except in their church.
Some believers will travel to another city where their church doesn't have a branch. Instead of worshiping with another living church, they'll rather stay at home saying their church is not in town. You mean all the churches in town are worshiping Satan?
The dogma of some churches have raised the people to become "church-centric" instead of being christocentric. It is the same reason some pastors will not allow their members marry from another denomination even when there are no doctrinal misalignment. They believe they are the authentic.
I grew up hearing my dad lead us in prayers on sundays asking that we pray for the move of God in all living churches. Today, preachers no longer pray for churches that are not theirs let alone their members. Have you grown to the point where you'll fast and pray for another church?
Listen, Jesus is not only for you and your church, he is for all. Your pastor and church doesn't have exclusive right to Jesus. He has children everywhere even in places you least expect.
We have been praying for revival. One thing I know is that revival will not happen until there is unity. Until we put some of our differences aside( there'll always be differences) and fight the enemy as a unified body, revival will not come.
Satan weakens us and break our ranks by magnifying our differences more than what unifies us. Start seeing God's people as your people. That is how God's kingdom can advance.
