Compromise is often necessary to achieving peace in this world.

But, as Jesus Christ’s disciples, we also need to learn to respect the negotiable limits of our faith.

For example, regardless of how comfortable we might feel about ourselves as Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, etc. representing a valid cross section of Christendom, would Jesus Christ actually consider our desire to understate our differences as a way of showing some kind of respect for one another?

Instead, wouldn’t this kind of theological pandering demonstrate the need for reminding ourselves about the difference between respect and tolerance?

In other words, if I truly respect [cherish, revere, etc.] what I believe, then I’d be hard-pressed to also respect any opinion incompatible with that belief.  I could only tolerate it. Otherwise, what I claim to believe would be irrelevant, wouldn’t it?

So, am I suggesting that different denominations can’t coexist peacefully?

Of course not. But maybe we should pay more attention to what the Bible says too.

In his letter to the church of God which [was] at Corinth, the apostle Paul discouraged what appeared to be the early stages of religious sectarianism:

“But I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all might speak the same [things], that there not be divisions among you, but that you all be restored into the same understanding and the same purpose.”  [1Cor. 1:10]  [my emphasis]

[σχίσμα: (skîsmâ) tear, split, divide an object into parts; by extension: division, dissension, implying discord and damage to the unity of the original group]

It shouldn’t surprise me that, even two-thousand years ago, men were just as likely as they are today to stumble over their flesh in an attempt to embellish their identity in Christ [see also: vss. 11-17]. Perhaps we’d do well then, to recognize Paul’s use of the Greek noun σχίσμα in the sentence above. This was a grammatical clue that there were “tears, splits or divisions” among them which desperately needed repair.

That’s not to say that a wise man doesn’t respect another’s right to differ about things. 

But The Good News which Jesus Christ shared can only be “good” if the focus is on Him alone, not Apollos or Peter or Paul [see: vss. 12-13] nor anyone else who shepherds a flock of his particular “σχίσμα.”

In fact, the very presence of factional branches [or denominations] existing in the Body of Christ today suggests that the like-mindedness we’re always bragging about is something we’re clearly failing to demonstrate to the rest of the world.

After all, there’s only one correct version of the truth.

The apostle Paul felt it was incumbent upon all men who called on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ not to rest until they found a way to speak that truth with one voice.

So why aren’t we trying to doing that?