there seems to be one on every street corner.
some have really beautiful buildings
some have been around for a while and serve tiny communities.
with 33,000, you can infer that something has divided that tiny group of followers from the first century.
so what does it mean that there are 33,000 denominations that disagreed so much that they formed their own church?
i grew up southern baptist. we dunked. we made a profession of faith and got saved.
the presbyterians and methodists baptized babies. how could they be saved?
catholics worshipped idols and mary and they left jesus on the cross. enough said.
can we be the body of christ in such separate factions?
maybe.
it depends on our purpose.
is the church about being right or about serving others?
i taught for 32 years in the public school system in south carolina. i encountered many churches where i disagreed with much of their theology and conservative political beliefs, but they sent buses out to bring children from poor neighborhoods to their church. they provided after school activities for children for free.
i taught those children. they are not easy. they aren't even grateful half the time... they don't expect it to last. they know they have to go back to homes where life is hard.
but they have those moments, those times when they are valued... which go back with them.
are those churches living out the teachings of jesus?
absolutely.
my best friend is an african american. i have spent many sundays at her church over the years.
it definitely took me out of my comfort zone.
they let their children wander all over the church during the service. they praised jesus all over the place. they clapped and sang and lifted my spirit. the women all wore elaborate hats and dressed up while the boys were welcomed in whatever they were wearing.
the preacher had a thousand points, and the piano emphasized every one.
i came to absolutely love it.
my last years in south carolina, i went to a downtown church in greenville, sc. that was the most truly integrated church i have ever known, and it wasn't just black and white. it was rich and poor. it was men and women who lived on the streets and those who lived in houses of six figure worth. it had women (and men) doused in expensive perfume and those who needed a bath.
it was about as jesus-like a church as i've ever known. it combined and respected many church traditions.
the pastor is a highly educated woman who uses modern day stories and metaphors that are so meaningful in discussing what it means to be a christian. (very like my present pastor in port st. joe) my best friend thinks she's wonderful.
the music was full of african american spirituals and hymns i hadn't heard in years. my own daughter expanded their repertoire with george jones's would they love him down in shrieveport today?
the music belongs to everybody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rruFDALgV-o
hands wave and clap, voices are raised with amens and praise gods.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlStqRAh4y0
the homeless are ushers and take up the offering and some who can barely read read the daily scripture.
triune mercy center gives a picture of what makes the body of christ.
it's about celebrating all the parts. it's about letting feet be feet and lungs be lungs and not trying to judge people's value or contributions.
triune isn't a perfect church. it doesn't have all the answers.
but it's been an attempt to let everyone serve in the way they are called.
all these different churches have helped me to grow, to not be stuck in the familiar.
can 33,000 denominations be one church?
it depends.
can we acknowledge that we see through a glass darkly but walk in the light we receive?
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