by Dave Brown
Ye often hear it said ...
"... go to the church of your choice ..."
but the apostle Paul said (Ephesians 4:4f):
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
A study of Ephesians reveals that the Lord's church is His body. This body is not divided and competing against itself. If we have the proper regard for God's word, we will be united in the same mind and in the same judgment (1 Cor. 1:10). No point of doctrine draws as much criticism as the firm biblical teaching stated above. Denominations can agree to disagree on practically everything, from the mode and purpose of baptism to the (im)morality of homosexuality. However, the one single thing that they feel most threatened by is someone declaring that there is but one truth, one way.
Believers of Ephesians 4:4 should not conclude that all of their practices and beliefs are perfect and right, because this will never be the case with any group of people. However, if we do not accept the concept of a single spiritual reality, we will have no motivation to strive for it, and we are bound to miss the mark. That is why the devil gives such priority to "the church of your choice."