Family of God

10 In Christ there is no longer Aboriginal nor White, rich nor poor, male nor female, Anglican nor Pentecostal–we are one in Christ Jesus. Jesus ate with the oppressive tax collectors. He talked to the women. He broke through cultural divides because what is most important is what God thinks of us, not what others think.

This is not to say there are no differences between rich and poor–as if their riches mean nothing–or between male and female–as if men could have children–but belonging to Christ, we are all God's children. Therefore, we are family. God's family.

Strive your utmost to notice the cultural divides and set the gospel and God's power against it, to show the world the power of the gospel to unite what was considered broken and unfixable. God is a healer, peacemaker and doctor. When Sally and Medika became friends, despite no common interest and every cultural divide, we all praised God for his power and love. This is to be commended and repeated.

Sectarianism

But what is this among you: one church is known for its contemporary music, another is known for its Calvinist teaching, and another for its emphasis on charismatic gifts? This is like saying the arm is good here, the stomach here, and the blood there. Separate, we are not even a Body anymore! We are mutilated!

Now psychologists will affirm 'birds of a feather flock together', and that is the way of the world, but are we of the world, or of God? Therefore, what should define us is not how we're all the same, like a typical social club, but how we're all different yet united!

Consider the Anglican, a thinker and quite reserved, yet even they could served well by passionate worship directed to God led by a Pentecostal. That Pentecostal may not be used to the high quality expository teaching by an Anglican, but they would be exercising their minds well, and become much more stable in their ways from it. Now, there may be differences in theology that cannot necessarily be ignored, but, if we would choose to be defined more by a 'strength in diversity' approach (the Body), we would all be far better off.

Authoritarianism

There is another way that, in coming off sectarianism, you need to be mindful of so that you do not fall into the equal but opposite error. This is the error of latching onto a particularly charismatic (in personality) leader without accountability or diffusion of power. Such a leader is ripe for becoming proud and asserting himself over the group. This assertion has no bounds if he is not accountability to a wider group such as an eldership or denomination-like body.

I experienced first hand the shift from a relatively healthy church to a cult–and it even occurred while the church had a leadership and was a part of a denomination. However, that denominational body had no authority over the church, and the leadership was intimidated by the charismatic leader, who dominated everyone. There was probably no constitution, either, which may have helped shift the power balance. In terms of the Body, the head had become larger than the torso! Thus life became about saying and doing what this leader wanted, and all opposing thought was swiftly and resolutely dealt with. It slowly but surely became a personality cult.

In order to spare you this pain, I commend to you the wisdom of 'separation of powers'. Appoint a leader, but your elders will establish your local rules by democratic vote, and watchmen should judge on any disciplinary matters. The normal practice of separating eldership (or "leadership") from deacons ("management") ought also to be commended–and do not make them come begging every week for funds, but let them manage a modest sum so they are empowered. In this way, then, the many come together to create a much stronger whole.