And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the
fulness of him who fills everything in every
way. Eph 1:22,23
Many believe that the Church of Christ can be represented by innumerable
"sub-churches" and that these groups can take any name they choose.
Thus, even though the term "Methodist" for instance, gives glory to
man's innovation instead of God's work in Christ, a Methodist will still claim
union with the one Body / Church of Christ. Yet, from Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane,
we find that Jesus never had this kind of union in mind.
Jn. 17:2,3-For you granted him authority over
all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now
this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent...
Jn. 17:6-8 - "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out
of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your
word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I
gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with
certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
Jn. 17:11 - I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still
in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of
your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one...
Jn. 17:14 - I have given them your word and the world has hated them,
for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world...
Jn. 17:20-23 - "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for
those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be
one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so
that the world may believe that you have sent me. I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world
know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
People often tell me that baptism can have nothing
to do with salvation because it would interfere with "the finished work of
Christ." Yet the same people have no qualms about belonging to
denominations that have come up with their name and their creed hundreds of
years after Christ finished His work.
Can it be true that the ever increasing
number of divisions in the Body of Christ show that we are evolving into a
truer church that better understands Christ's teachings? Is He still perfecting
His Body? How long before we are ready to answer His prayer for the unity that
will convince the world that Jesus is the Son of One God and Father of all?
When will His work be
finished?