OVER the years, we have seen various interdenominational and non-denominational groups and ministries emerging sheltering members from other church groups and cults.
There are positives and negatives from this.
The bad part is that some have amalgamated into ministries without real evangelism being undertaken.
However, there are other interdenominational endeavours that have stood the test of time.
One outstanding positive is the miraculous and operation of gifts of the spirit, which certain denominations did not previously entertain.
My brief today is to reconcile the fact that some have interacted with the truth but chose to remain in church groups which do not subscribe to the newly-acquired truths.
I mean those genuinely born again, but find themselves in a rather precarious predicament.
Your salvation will stand. Let us say you know that God loves a cheerful giver and your church group says you are only blessed by “paying” Old Testament tithe and that you will not enter heaven if you do not “pay” tithe.
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If you are comfortable in that setting, there would be serious internal struggle. Should you follow your Bible and pray, I don’t see you lasting there.
I have just quoted 2 Corinthians 9:7 Amplified Classic, “Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He [a]takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, ‘prompt to do it’) giver [whose heart is in his giving].”
Let us look at another scenario which is Holy Communion.
The term in remembrance of me has tied many to bondage because they feel church without mass is not enough.
For those who follow this column, we studied exhaustively that Jesus said it to teach the disciples to keep in mind the redemptive work not to drink some altar wine and eat wafers.
He had already debunked it in John 6:49, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”
We read further in John 6:51,53, “[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. [53] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”
The sacrificial death of Jesus is our redemption. Please read the whole chapter.
Unlike the Old Testament, the New Testament is not in symbolism and imagery. It is a spiritual covenant.
Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat [food] and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
You need to see beyond elements including your church building.
Will you lose your salvation by taking Holy Communion?
Certainly not. You only stand the danger of worshipping creation rather than the Creator.
Let us quote again 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Please do not attach material things to the worship of God.
We read John 4:23-24, “[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
In the original text, spirit and in truth reads in spirit which is truth.
If you have inner peace wherever you have chosen to fellowship, stay there. However, if there is inner turmoil, seek guidance.
You also have your own Bible. Please don’t sacrifice your eternal life because it is the denomination that our forefathers used to attend.
There are many denominations and ministries to find suitable ones for each one of us.
Next time we will look at the doctrine of water baptism.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
- All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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