The One True Church

 I binged watched the series, Under the Banner of Heaven on Netflix. The premise of the show is the investigation of the brutal murders of a mother and her eighteen-month-old child in 1984. The victims and their murderers were all in the Mormon church. They were part of one family. Throughout the show, the characters who are Mormon are reminded that their church is the one true church. That statement made me think. 

For centuries, theologians have been bickering of how “right” or “more right” their denomination or non-denomination is. It has leaked into our political parties. Both parties in America claim that their party is the one true party in which we should believe. Then, the social media fights begin of how right people are or are not. The need to be “right” has overshadowed what is truly right. We have become a people to fight for what is right and not for people. 

I am intrigued with the study of other religions and cults. I am curious of what the alure is to beliefs that may appear strange to some of us. It all comes to the leader manipulating the people of how right his or her way of thinking and beliefs are. It’s scary of what we can force people to believe if we push the idea that the belief is of absolute truth, when, it has many holes. It is all about having to be right. 

I have a confession. I love the three words, “You are right.” It gives me validation. Part of that comes because most of the time, I either do not say my opinion or I am wrong. So, when I hear how right I am, I become proud, and it usually leads to pridefulness. You can judge me. As you judge me, remember that the next time you post something on social media claiming how right you are about a topic, especially anything with religion. 

Before anyone judges me, most people press to be right today. Not many people admit to when they are wrong or when they make a mistake. I could become dry dust waiting for some people to apologize that they were wrong. Maybe your facts were correct. The method in which you delivered them was incorrect, rude, and insensitive. This is for both Christians and non-Christians. It’s time that we work harder to bring people to righteousness instead of our own rightness. 

So, how do we do this? There are simple solutions, but like everything else, when dealing with people, a simple solution is not so simple. It takes empathy, compassion, and understanding. 

First, we must listen. We must listen to the hurts of those who need Jesus. Are we listening or are we insulting and condemning? We must listen to what their concerns are of the church and start where they are, not at the loftiness of our high intelligence of rightness. You don’t have to condone sin. You also can confess your sin. How do you want people to approach you when they know about your sin? That’s how you approach someone who is living outside of Jesus. It goes back to Jesus saying that we are to do unto others as we want them to do to us. 

Next, we must be empathetic. We must treat others how we want to be treated. Even though people have a gruff exterior, no one wants to be approached with a condemning attitude of superiority. Watch the debates on Twitter and you will learn quickly how people do not change because of that attitude. They just become superior in their own beliefs.  Twitter is a great example of how not to communicate with human beings. We must approach people with kindness. We must start where they are in their beliefs of God. It’s how Jesus reached people who didn’t know him. 

The final step is doing what Jesus did. We wore the bracelets in the 1990s; now it’s time to put those bracelets asking what would Jesus do into practice. Jesus started where people were, not where he was, which was good for the people. He invited Zacchaeus to his house. He met with the woman at the well and talked with her and acknowledged what she knew. He walked with Peter on the water and knew how to get him back on his feet. If Jesus started with humans at his level, none of us would be worthy of his salvation. 

We must start where people are. We can be right with our beliefs, even when our beliefs are backed by scientific facts. Being right doesn’t give us the privilege to be rude. It doesn’t give us the privilege to start with people at a level that they cannot attain spiritually. When we show our love and understanding. We must teach people that God loves them for who they are right now. They do not have to change before giving their life to God. They are to give their lives to God and allow God to change them. 

Most of us want the best for ourselves and others. We fight that our way is the best because we want others to enjoy the great benefits that we have in life. We just have to use honey in our tone and not salt. No one wants to be assaulted with your rightness. I am not going to change my beliefs because you posted a meme, you swore at me, you punched me with a comment on social media, or you found an outlier story to share. I am going to listen and understand your beliefs because you used honey to help me see your side. Jesus didn’t scream. Jesus didn’t condemn. Jesus showed compassion and grace. 

We all strive to do our best. We want all the answers. We want to serve God and do it with our best, not our mediocrity. Let’s change our work. Let’s introduce people to Jesus and not our church. Then, we will see a change in society around us. We’ll let God decide which church is the one true church. I think his answer will surprise us because it will be all the saints in heaven gathered at the feet of Jesus at which we will then know.