Only One.

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13) 

"There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-5)

Newsflash: Denominations were a human invention. You'll find no mention of them in the Bible. Jesus prayed that "all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity," (John 17:21, 23). But most days in contemporary times, we no longer identify ourselves with Christ; we label ourselves as Baptist, or Pentecostal, or Catholic, and go our separate ways. We've turned our beliefs into immovable ideologies that we can force-feed our children and our children's children. We are pridefully certain our denomination is the true way, and we immediately dismiss anyone who would dare to hold a different opinion.

Are we really so arrogant? Would we really presume to know everything there is to know about God? Would we really refuse to acknowledge that there may be a margin of error in some of our interpretations of Scripture? Or are we so obsessed with being right, we block out the words from our brothers and sisters that may very well lead us into a deeper revelation of God? Even Paul admitted in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror." And yet, in the modern-day Church, each faction is certain they have all the correct answers.

We talk about how we are all members of one Body, but we forget that the Church is so much more than the local building where we meet with a few of our brothers and sisters on Sundays. The Church is made up of every believer, from every city, state, and nation on the planet. And with technology today, there has never been a better opportunity for the Church to be unified--to learn together, grow together, build each other up.

The various denominations have so much to offer each other (I know from experience, because I've been adopted into several). If we would only open our ears and our hearts to listen. If we would only stop making assumptions and looking down on our brothers and sisters because of the church they go to. If we would only honor each other above ourselves, as we were called to do. If only we would stop worrying about winning arguments, and start seeking Truth.

Our Body would be whole. The Spirit would fill our lungs with breath. We would be unstoppable.