A denomination known by...what?

If you're looking at churches or denominations, you can visit them or go on wikipedia and see what it says. Often wikipedia or church websites will say stuff like, "numbering 72 million, these individuals subscribe to the doctrine that..."

Imagine, though, if you looked and the entry said, "these individuals are known by their love for one another." (John 13:35)

Imagine going to a congregation and having the takeaway that, "These people love one another! They love God!" Imagine if it came across as a caring family, and not just some religious organization or awesome band playing. That's Christ's vision, so let's make it ours!

Unity of what?

So I mentioned that God calls us to the unity of faith and Spirit in Ephesians 4, and that allows for some variance, since it's "the unity" and not "the uniformity." At the same time, though, God does give a list of 7 things that we have to be united on; namely that,

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (4-6)

From what I can tell, most people will buy into 6 of these, but shy away from baptism. Since they are listed without preference, it seems that God equates denying baptism with the same denying the Spirit, or the one God. I certainly feel free and unafraid saying that I agree with God on all 7 counts!

Are you a damnable heretic?

I've been called a false teacher, damnable heretic, and even son of Satan before, and often over very slight differences in understanding over scriptures. With that said, God is looking for us to learn, and He has a goal in mind. Check it out:

"...to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith." (Eph 4:12-13)

God wants unity. Before we throw out the "false teacher" line, we should recognize that unity isn't the same thing as uniformity. When we start looking for uniformity, we can become hyper-critical and prideful, looking for any deviation, supposing that we know everything with 100% accuracy. 

Let's build each other up instead of living by the rule, "The nail that sticks out gets the hammer." There's a place for teaching, but a place for learning from our differences, too. "Now the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I have no need of you." Or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (1 Cor 12:21)

—Lucas