Denominational Burial
John 17:22-23 "I have given them the glory that you gave
me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in
me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world
know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have
loved me." NIV
There didn't seem to be any shortage of cemeteries in
Newfoundland. Every tiny wide place in the road hosted at
least two, side-by-side, separated by whitewashed rail
fences. Usually there were only a few buried on one side,
with many more on the other, and sometimes there were as
many as five or six cemeteries side by side! So what was the
difference between each of these? Just one tiny thing: Over
the gate of each cemetery was a sign, and each sign sported
a different word. Some read "Anglican", others read
"United", and still others "Pentecostal". Some read Catholic
or Baptist, Jehovah Witness, Salvation Army, or Seventh-Day
Adventist.
Friends, can we, as Christians, not even be united in death?
Imagine the following:
An Anglican (no harm intended here. It could also be a
Seventh-Day Adventist or a Pentecostal or any other
denomination) dies and goes to heaven. While wondering
where to locate his church friends who had died before him,
he (let's call him Jim) meets Frank who is Pentecostal.
"Frank? Is that you? What are you doing here?"
"Hi Jim. Well I died two years ago and now I am enjoying the
company of angels."
"But weren't you Pentecostal?"
"Sure I was. But you know what, in heaven there are no
denominations!"
"No denominations?" exclaims Jim, "but who are all these
people walking the golden celestial streets then?"
"Those are the ones who have been redeemed from the earth
through the blood of Jesus Christ." (see Rev 14:3-4).
"But what about my friend Rob? He was a firm believer in my
church. Is he here?"
"Sadly no."
"Why not?"
"He believed that he could obtain salvation through his own
works and consequently discredited believers from other
denominations. As I said, there are NO denominations here.
We are ALL followers of Jesus Christ, and we are so thankful
for what Jesus did for us on the cross."
"You mean there are no Anglicans in heaven?"
"Only the ones who believed in Jesus and not in their
own works or church. The same goes for members of ANY
denomination. Anyone who died believing that their
church could save them learned, too late, that it is only the Blood
of Jesus that can save, not a set of doctrinal beliefs."
Sad, isn't it? But oh, so true! There are NO denominations
in heaven! Why? Because no one can be saved by denomination,
by pastors, even by doctrine. Salvation is solely obtained
through the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus is the only One who
saved us. By ourselves we are nothing.
So, if there are no denominations in Heaven, why do we fight
and bicker over doctrinal differences? Didn't Jesus pray
FOUR TIMES that we, as Christians would be one, just as He
and His Heavenly Father are one? Why aren't we? Is it
because we don't let Jesus be the head of our church? The
apostle Paul is clear on this: Col 2:10 "You have been given
fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and
authority." NIV
Truth is not a set of rules, nor is it a church or a
denomination. Truth is a person. Truth is Jesus Christ. John
14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me." NIV
Inner peace and rest for the soul is not obtainable through
your church. Only Jesus can give us that: Matt 11:28 "Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give
you rest." NIV
If Jesus is our salvation, why do we stress denominational
differences so much? Why not fulfill Jesus' prayer and be
united as one, proclaiming the Good News message and not our
denominational differences? Only then will the world know
that Jesus was sent by God for the benefit of humanity. (See
John 17:22-23)
Which denomination's cemetery would you like to be buried
in? Personally, I vote to be buried in Jesus Christ. What
about you?
Rob Chaffart