Allies In A United Front

“Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.”
– 1 Peter 5:9 (The Message)

When I served in the United States Army, I had the privilege of serving with service men and women from some of the other branches of the military. Side by side I worked with Marines, airmen, and sailors in protecting and promoting our country’s national interests. Occasionally, each group would get all excited—especially the Marines—claiming they were the best, the toughest, and the smartest. Of course the Marines were always the fewest and the proudest (Semper Fi). However, there was one thing I noticed: when it came to serving together for the common goal of guarding our nation and when it came to patriotism, we were all united as Americans.

For quite some time now, I have felt God leading me to give emphasis to uniting brothers and sisters in Christ across denominational lines for the common purposes of service to and worship of our unifying Savior, Jesus Christ. Though each congregation and church family may maintain its traditional methods and practices in order to maintain their distinct identities, it is time for us to lock arms and stand firm together in the promotion of the Kingdom of God.

I am not suggesting we do away with denominations. Each church and denomination needs its own biblical and organizational foundation in which to function effectively. What I am encouraging is that every believer and follower of Jesus Christ sees every other believer and follower of Jesus Christ as beloved members of THE CHURCH as THE BODY OF CHRIST regardless of affiliation. But as much as I love being a Baptist, I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and will preach and proclaim salvation in Him alone (see 1 Corinthians 1:10-18).

When a person stands before God in heaven, God is not going to look at any Christian denomination membership book marked Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Church of Christ, Assembly of God, or ___________ (fill in the blank with any other designation) to find his or her name. No, God is going to look at “The Lamb’s Book of Life” (see Revelation 21:27 and 20:15) and only those whose names are written there—names of those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for their forgiveness of sins and their new life in Him—will get to enter into heaven. If God’s love and grace isn’t limited to any particular Christian denomination why should we limit our love and grace?

Richard Baxter, a 17th century English Puritan church leader and theologian, once said, “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.” This means, in the basic biblical essentials of the Christian faith, we must be unified. In those non-essentials that differentiate us as denominations, we must let each other work that out before the Lord (see Philippians 2:12). But regardless of our differences, we must love and serve each other with each other, whether that extends around the corner or around the world.

Our enemy and competition is not the church down the street. As devoted citizens of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, our common enemy is Satan’s kingdom of darkness (see Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we must be united on our knees in prayer, united in our lives in service, and united in our hearts in love as we pledge our allegiance to our Lord God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and to His loving plan for this temporary home we call Earth. May we together proclaim “Victory In Jesus” and shout our battle cry “His Kingdom Come!”