Soldiers and the body

When I’m standing in the trenches with mortars flying over my head, I’d like to know the state of those standing beside me. The previous article tries to group Christians by their belief system. Why should we care?

One of the reasons is this spiritual battle. We strap on our armor but we don’t stand alone. Even the angels didn’t know about the mystery of the body of Christ, but now we stand together as one body, toes and feet linking with livers and lungs.

I don’t want to be a judge but it helps me to know that, for example, a cultural Christian stands beside me. I won’t expect what this person isn’t ready to deliver.

Another reason to be aware of Christian groups is that sometimes the mission field is in our own pews. For those who enter a church because of reasons other than Christ crucified, I have an opportunity to point them to Jesus.

Chambers argues for the centrality of the cross: “We lose power if we do not concentrate on the right thing. The effect of the Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach any of these, we are to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

This walk of faith is not about traditions or worship practices or comfort but about following him who gave up all for our freedom. So the grouping by Christianity Today is useful: to re-focus our attention on Jesus.

“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6