Church Alive by Martin Wiles

I’m denominationally challenged…a conglomeration of various beliefs and practices all jumbled together. But perhaps I’m a reflection of the true church.

I was born into a family of die-hard Baptists…at least on my father’s side. My mother was raised Methodist. When I was six years of age, my father became a Methodist minister. As I approached my fifteenth birthday, he returned to his Baptist roots and took me along. I followed in his footsteps and pastored Baptist churches. Then at forty-six, I began attending a Pentecostal Holiness church-a radical change for a Baptist/Methodist kind of guy.

Denominations have merit but are man-made and temporary. The church of the living God, however, will endure eternally. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth (I Timothy 3:15 NLT).

Paul planted and wrote to churches with no denominational affiliation, but they were doctrinally sound and grounded in the truth. These traits-not a denominational tag, make churches come alive.

Living churches teach doctrine-God’s truth. Surveys reveal many Christians know little doctrine. Knowing what I believe and why helps tremendously when sharing my faith and battling the enemy. Jesus himself engaged Satan with Scripture.

Living churches also share life application. What I know and believe only changes my behavior when it’s practiced. Faith without works is dead.

Additionally, living churches major on the commonalities among Christendom rather than the minor differences. Jesus Christ is God’s Son who was sent to die for the world’s sins. He was resurrected and ascended back into heaven. Only by accepting his forgiveness through faith can I be connected to God and have an eternal home in heaven. That’s the bottom line. If you’re not a member of the living church, why not join now?

Prayer: Thank You merciful Lord for not dividing us by denomination, race, color, or creed…only by whether we’ve accepted You.