Christians Have Way Bigger Problems Than Each Other

When Christianity began, it was a small cult hiding in catacombs, cliffs, and caves. It was a shape shifting hodge podge of dreamers and doers skirting the authorities if possible and succumbing to martyrdom when not.

Not until the 300’s did it bear some semblance of legitimacy. Then, Roman Emperor Constantine declared it legal and summoned Christian thinkers to establish the Roman Catholic Church. This later split into Eastern Orthodoxy and even later branched into Protestantism when Martin Luther nailed his 99 theses against a door in Germany.

Today there are three main branches of Christianity and as many as 45,000 denominations globally…and none of them is 100% right about everything. I say this with confidence because Christianity is an admission of flawed human status and a need for God to correct said status. Logic thus dictates that if humans are flawed, then their creations are flawed. This includes their churches, each with good and bad to offer.

If no denomination is 100% correct about everything, then perhaps Christ’s church, like our government, needs an unofficial system of checks and balances. And for that reason, maybe, just maybe, we are ALL supposed to be here. Our government has three main branches which are meant to challenge things for the betterment of the people. Our God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is-Triune. Christianity has three main branches, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox. It seems too much of a coincidence.

Notice that when the pope is wrong, there are fiery protestant thinkers to challenge him. Or, when Baptists feel disconnected from history, there is an Orthodox brother inviting them to a Russian Christmas. Likewise, Catholics often share the beauty of first communion with Presbyterian neighbors. I remember my mother saying to me after witnessing such a ceremony “You know the Catholics do some beautiful things.”

Considering this theory opens the door to humility for the Christian. And when humility is entertained, the door to friendship is not far behind, along with the realization that Christians have way bigger problems than each other.

We all came from the same place. The basic tenants of all three Christian branches proclaim Christ and declare that we are returning to Him. Yes, there are differences, but perhaps those differences are to be celebrated, not debased.
In the colonial days, a picture of a snake circulated the colonies. It was cut into pieces with the abbreviations of eight colonies on each piece. The moto “Join or Die” was beneath it. I can think of no better analogy for today’s modern church than that old colonial snake.

Those who call Christ King have many enemies, but if we join as our ancestors did to defend and support each other, we could have far more friends.