We have a new president in the U.S., and I’ve been watching closely his actions the first couple of weeks in office.  Even though I didn’t vote for him, I certainly don’t want him to fail, because if the country loses, I lose.  I have observed, however, two thrusts of rhetoric right out of the starting gate.  One is a boasting of change (a campaign promise), supported by an immediate reversal of any administration policy set in place by the former “dreaded” Republican president.  Second is a complaint against partisan politics, like we didn’t have the same problem with the Democratic Congress under a Republican president.

Then I got to thinking how the many denominations within Christianity practice party politics for the sake of doctrine.  Unlike Congress the churches across denominational lines don’t have a corporate mandate to form a unified church.  Maybe they should. What if they set as their goal a willingness to examine what they believe and consider how it would benefit the nation (and world) for them to find and strengthen their common ground?

Religion has been hotly debated for thousands of years and is not likely to see reconciliation any more than we’ll see Israelis and Palestinians in a group hug.  What’s even more interesting is to see denominations within the denominations —  more than 75 kinds of Baptists in North America alone, conservative and liberal Presbyterians, and so on — the list seems endless.  And the larger the denomination, the more likely it will attempt to control the government, ultimately bringing oppression to those who sing from a different hymnal.

Having attended organized church for more than 50 years, I, somewhat fearfully, left it behind and tried house church meetings for a few years.  Now I don’t go to church at all.  Obviously, the assumption for those that don’t really know me is that I have abandoned faith altogether.  This couldn’t be further from the truth, as evidenced by this blog, Framed By Faith.  I believe that I am closer to the Lord than ever before. Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not comparing myself to my Christian brethren; I’m simply stating that God has taken me in a new direction.  And church, as it’s commonly called, needed to go on the back burner, so to speak.

I also believe that God loves all of those that follow him, be it Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Quakers, etc. — as well as those that don’t know him yet.  Yes, including Atheists.  I think it’s sad that some aggressively defend their doctrines to the point of hating other believers, though they won’t admit to it.  Still others interpret the Bible (God’s word?) so as to prove that theirs is the true church.  Isn’t this a lot like party politics?

The Christian fundamentalists preach faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9), then boast of the good work they are doing.  I challenge the boasting, but encourage the work (James 2:18).  The gate to truth is narrow, and few are they that find it.  But they will find it.  Meanwhile they are doing the Lord’s work.  If they are open to change (politics nothwithstanding), God will teach them of his greater love, a love that blurs or even eliminates sectarian lines.  True love has no boundaries or restrictions (I Corinthians 13).

The greatest thing I have in favor of churches is the opportunity for fellowship and service.  No, I don’t mean service as deacons, elders, choir members, Sunday school teachers, etc.  Been there, done that.  I mean service to one another.  Checking the pulse of your neighbor, meeting his or her needs.  Not just remembering the name of your fellow pew-warmer, but knowing a lot about him, showing him real love, and graciously receiving the same from him.

I’ll probably return to church someday.  Whenever I feel that the Lord is ready for me to.  But for now, he’s given me plenty of people to love.