I'm going to make a possible bold statement....
Comparison and judgement are the root of all sin.
They are what entered into the world in the garden. The "knowledge" of good and evil became a feeling of righteousness and
superiority at the fact we know. Adam and Eve felt ashamed because they now compared each other, and knew there was a possibility of someone being "worse" looking or "better" at this or that.
It is where Pride comes from, with us claiming to know better. Insecurity is the opposite, telling us we are worse than others. This all comes from the fact we were meant to have someone else give us identity. God walked with Adam and Eve and they found who they were in Him, but we got a knowledge that said our identity comes from ourselves and others, not God.
So if this is sin, and the root of sin, it seems strange that we as Christians have this horrible mindset of "
I am saved and know jesus and you don't so therefore I am better than you" Its not said but so often its implied. Even interdenominationally, we say we have more of the Holy Spirit, or have been around for longer or have a better revelation. We
classify our sins and put homosexuality and abortion at the top but judgement and pride are common accepted residents in a church.
Paul speaks in all his epistles of unity. The Jew and gentile divide was exactly this, they each thought they were better, had some new revelation or such. But Paul beats them down. There is no Jew or Greek in the Kingdom, we have all died with Christ.
We need more unity.
We need more humility.
Yes, you may be able to eat pig, or hear the Holy spirit, or move in the gifts, but is it causing a brother to stumble?? Have we taken on Jesus' role as judge? We say, oh they are not saved or do not have the right theology. Maybe so, but who are you to say so?? And is the way you're saying so actually helping their faith?
I feel like the verse "
And they shall know us by our love for one another" is not being lived out. Us as christians have become so quick to judge ourselves. We fight interdenominationally, so that those on the outside say, "if they cant get along? why would i want to join?" Its true. How can we love those who are hard to love when we can't love our own brothers?
I just feel like our judgement of being holier than others promotes disunity. And that is of the enemy.
God desires unity because he is Unity. He wants our identity and security to be found in HIM. He wants us united in a common goal of seeking Him and showing others Him. And when it comes to this, are we really all that different? Our methods or theologies behind it may differ, but
Jesus is Lord. And that's enough???
Can we as modern christians possibly write a new Nicene Creed?
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
