Today in church our bishop and some of his family members shared experiences they had while visiting Uganda, Africa. It impressed me how he shared his testimony of how the love of God is shown in all people throughout the world and how he was so grateful for his relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
His experiences and testimony reminded me of a scripture in the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 26:33, which reads:
…for he (the Lord) doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he ainviteth them ball to ccome unto him and partake of his goodness; and he ddenieth none that come unto him, black and white, ebond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the fheathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
This scripture reminded me of another statement made by the Baptist Preacher who believes in the Book of Mormon, John Ridenour. In this statement, he submits that God is non-denomonational and that God doesn’t really care about doctrine as much as he cares about how we treat each other. A part of his statement is included below:
How does God think?
When He looks down over my city, Kansas City, Missouri, He doesn’t see Baptist churches or Lutheran churches or Catholic churches or Pentecostal churches or Mormon churches. He sees His children. That’s it. God is not “denominational.” We have over 100 denominations in our city but I submit-the Lord recognizes none of them. That is, His Church is built upon the rock of revelation that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 13). I submit-when the Lord looks down upon any city, He sees His Church-and all who have had a personal revelation that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, are members of His Church. I’m saying–I want to view His church as the Lord sees His church–based upon a revelation of His Lordship, not doctrinal agreement. Why wait ‘till we all get to heaven to think like God thinks?
I’m also saying-too often we’re divided by doctrine. That ought not be. He who has confessed Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior is my brother in the faith. Fellowship is centered around His Lordship, not doctrine. Again–all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives, regardless of creed, color, or class, are my brothers and sisters. I like the way C.S. Lewis said it in his classic book “Mere Christianity.” Lewis says, “…it’s not that we Christians disagree; it’s that we disagree on the importance of our disagreements…” How true! Example…
For some of the brethren, it’s very important that we believe in baptismal regeneration before we will fellowship; for others it’s very important that we believe in irresistible grace (the Calvinist point of view of Salvation) before we can fellowship; with others, the will of man (Armenian point of view) plays a crucial role in one’s salvation. With some of us, we embrace the “second blessing” typically known as “the deeper life experience.” Methodists call it sanctification. Others of us do not believe in the second blessing experience. Some of us believe in the “baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit” with the evidence of glossalalia; others of us don’t. Some of us are pre-millennial regarding our views on the Second Coming; some of us are post-millennial; a few of us are amillennial. A few of us think esoteric temple rites have a role to play in the afterlife.
See what I mean? Fellowship too often is based upon doctrine.
We as mortals will never come close to seeing things the way that God does, but I think that the Book of Mormon scripture along with this statement by John Ridenour are very positive steps in starting to see things the way God does. One of the beauties and magnificence of God is that he sees all people the same whether they believe or not. He loves unconditionally in a way that we will never comprehend and His arms are always stretched out ready to receive us. I believe that God blesses all people, and those who take steps of faith towards Him come to know and love Him. As a result, we come to love and appreciate all people and see them as God sees them.
Now, I’m sure most people will agree that God loves everyone and is not partial towards one group of people, as the Bible teaches, but it leaves the questions: which doctrines and religions are recognized by God? Which ones are not? Does it even matter?
All I can speak from is personal experience, and I firmly believe the path I’m on is the correct path. I believe that God appeared to Joseph Smith and re-established the Church of Jesus Christ. I believe this as a result of personal study and sincere prayer and many experiences. However, I do not believe that the LDS church has a monopoly on truth and there are many things which haven’t been revealed to us as to how heaven works.
I know many people in other faiths who say they’ve had just as personal of experiences and a witness from God that their path is the correct path. I don’t doubt that God has just as close of a relationship with them as He does with me. But if we believe there is one faith, one Lord, one baptism, etc. how can we say that God is not denominational?
Grace for Grace 
12 comments
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July 7, 2008 at 4:14 am
Howard
I believe that God smiles upon all serious forms of worship.
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July 7, 2008 at 5:39 am
Eric Zacharias
Howard,
Are you a real student of Scripture or just one indulging in happy thoughts?
Why did the Lord’s prophets tear down the altars of Baal, the altars of Ashtorah? Why did God abhor the worship of Molech?
God does not smile “on all serious forms of worship.”
Did not the Lord say, “I the Lord your God am a jealous God”?
Anyone who says “God smiles on all serious forms of worship” fails to take God seriously.
It puts me in mind of the Apostle James, who wrote, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devil also believes and trembles.” James 2:19
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July 7, 2008 at 5:55 am
Eric Zacharias
Ama,
God is, in fact, “partial to one group of people.”
Very basic to Judeo-Christian thought is that God brought about a people out of nothing. Abraham and Sarah were regarded as the parents of a very particular people. The Book of Hebrews tells it like it is: they were as good as dead, physically, since they both were well beyond the years of childbearing.
God is partial to one group of people: they stem from Abraham’s line. They are not biologically one group, but one that focuses on the one particular descendant of Abraham, namely, Jesus Christ. The one by whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Jesus made it a point to tell the Jews that their hopes should not be on their genealogy with Abraham; rather, the true people of God are those who focus on him. Abraham longed to see the day of the Messiah, Jesus said; more incredible is that Abraham rejoiced to see that day, for God is not a God of the dead but of the living.
God is partial to one group of people. The apostle Paul mentions that God opens the kingdom of heaven to all believers. The Jews who do not believe on Christ have been removed from it; but, he says, perhaps by their envy of the gentiles, they will reconsider the essential part that Jesus is to their faith: he is the foundation and the capstone, even as he is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
God is partial to one group of people: all who hear and believe in him have eternal life. Denominations may be an offense to some; but they offer up their doctrines for people to consider. The wise will weigh these teachings against Scripture itself and either align themselves with it or with another. Ultimately, we must let God be the final judge; we cannot presume to do otherwise.
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July 7, 2008 at 11:12 am
SilverRain
There is difference in God accepting all people and in Him accepting all behavior. A very vast difference.
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July 7, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Howard
Eric,
You took my comment too literally. Your OP mentions Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Pentecostal and Mormon churches, etc. but it does not suggest anything like #2.
Perhaps I should have been more specific by saying; “I believe that God smiles upon all serious forms of worship of Him.”
“Are you a real student of Scripture or just one indulging in happy thoughts?”
Actually I’m a new student of Scripture with happy thoughts, attempting to share an inspired belief in support of your OP.
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July 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Howard
Eric,
#4 should be changed to read ama49’s OP.
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July 7, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Eric Zacharias
Sorry Howard. I did take you too literally.
My point is that worship reflects theology. What you believe comes out in worship; and worship is reflective of the theology.
Consider some “Christian” groups that actually engage “Mother Earth” in their worship. They have mixed pagan elements into what was originally Christian. How sad–but informative of how teachings move away from scripture.
Regardless of our denominational stripe, we should be cautious about doctrine and worship.
Sorry for the flame.
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July 7, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Eric Zacharias
Q:
What does OP mean?
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July 9, 2008 at 3:14 am
ama49
#3 Eric,
You’re right about what you said about what Paul meant by God being “partial.” He meant God welcomed everyone to the fold. Thanks for the clarification.
#2
Easy on the comments there. You got a bit snappy on that didn’t you? Even if someone writes something you don’t agree with please don’t jump all over them on this site.
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July 21, 2008 at 9:19 pm
jack
My pastor once made a remarkable statement: “Jesus doesn’t call us to a church or to a denomination, He calls us to Himself.” It’s all about Jesus Christ, and the love He poured down and continues to pour down on us in the form of grace. Eric Z. is correct when stating that God is concerned with a group of people. That group consists of everyone who confesses as Peter did that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Denominationalism has its strengths. The biggest strength I see is that it stands as a guard against heretical teachings and movements. I also believe that denominations play a role in making the gospel accessible to all types of people. Some people feel comfortable raising their arms in worship, and others feel comfortable praising in a more subdued manner. Some people believe that their children should be baptized as infants, and some believe that they should make that choice on their own. Both sides of the table have ample biblical passages to support their view. It’s because the Bible is held in tension that denominations exist; it’s a matter of what one wishes to emphasize. As a Wesleyan-Holiness believer, I believe that Christian perfection can be attained in this life through the work of the Holy Spirit. Others might not agree with that. I also believe that baptism serves as a sign of the New Covenant and is not regenerative; others might not agree with that. I believe that sins committed after justification need to be repented of; others might believe that Christ died for past, present, and future sins. When discussing these differences with others, I have found that they really don’t matter to the point of being legalistic about anything, because they are issues of expressing my faith and worshiping God. What really matters is whether or not I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, who came to earth to redeem my soul and reconcile me to God; it matters that I believe that the blood of Jesus Christ shed on calvary paid the price for my sins, and that I am justified by faith and not works. It matters that I believe in the Trinity–even if I can’t explain how it works because there is still mystery and awe where God is concerned. It matters that I believe in the biblical text, “sola scriptura,” that within this text can be found everything I need to know to enter God’s presence. When it comes to denominationalism, we just need to remember that God works through a fallen humanity who isn’t going to get everything right; however, with that said, God has the ability and power to reveal what we need to know to live in His presence. It’s about relationship with God in the Person of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. That’s why I love to repeat my pastor: “Jesus doesn’t call us to a church or to a denomination, He calls us to Himself.”
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September 10, 2008 at 10:39 am
Jessica
I do agree with this man that God is Non-Denominational because it is man that has made Denominations. I believe in the personal relationship we have with Jesus Christ “trumps” denomination However, I disagree with him that Doctrines don’t matter because they do according to Scripture. See Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1; II Timothy 4:3; and 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
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October 21, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Mark
Jessica that’s right on… God loves all who claimed Him as their ultimate trust by repenting and turning to Christ (Acts 2:38).
But this involves changing ones lifestyle from what you were once believing… this is where doctrine comes in.
As for the book of Mormon… the passage that was quoted is basically a compilation which could be seen in different passages of the Bible so nothing new there. But God does limit those who come to Himself… because as Heb. 11:6 states “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
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