Competition

Denominationalism. It's interesting how the Christian community has traditionally had so many divisions and distinctions. I wouldn't want anyone to associate me with a church that speaks in tongues or preaches about miracle healings or any of that nonsense. People might think I'm crazy. Those people who baptize children are wrong; I better make sure people know that I believe the "right" stuff about God. At least for me, there have been many different reasons why I've wanted to distinguish which denomination I beong to over the years. I'd like to think I've gotten beyond all that separation (for the most part anyway).

It seems sometimes that different denominations are more concerned with having more followers than another or trying to convince more people that they have more of the nuances of Christianity right than another church than in helping non-believers to know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Africa is no different (maybe worse than the USA) in this respect. I hear about churches wanting to start new churches right across from existing ones of other denominations or in the same communities as already existing churches. Communities where people in general are already "Christian" at least by name. Nominalism is rampant. But, there are so many communities that still have no church and people walk for miles to reach a church. Yet the efforts to form churches is not there. As you could imagine, building new, lasting church buildings could easily cause some denominational animosity and friction when most churches meet in grass-thatched, mud-walled buildings. We don't discriminate based on how you practice faith, but there are some factors that affect which churches we are able to partner with that results in partnering with one or two denominations much more often than others. And the sizes of church building vary somewhat, providing more opportunity for jealousy or fighting. I've seen this other places and especially seen it in society in general which, like most of the negative aspects of society as a whole, means it is likely just as large a problem for the church.

It is with this line of thinking that I was surprised and encouraged yesterday. Attending a church opening celebration for a church that was recently finished, I witnessed a service that included and incorporated members of all the other denominations in the area. The speakers from this denomination as well as those from the others and even a representative from the local government spoke of unity. Many people commented on it being the first time they had been in a service like this with leaders from all different denominations present, and the leaders of the church were thanked for including and incorporating everyone. And, traveling with two leaders of different (competing) denominations for the two hour ride to and from the celebration, I heard them talking together and laughing a lot of the way. It is encouraging to meet men of God who are truly concerned about God's kingdom.