All About Jesus

There are more than eight billion people alive today, and one-third are Christian. With nearly three billion Christians and more than 45,000 denominations, it can be difficult filtering through the noise and finding the true Church. We can’t all be right.

Of course, I believe Orthodox Christianity is the true Church proclaiming Christ since the first Pentecost. That does not mean there is no value to the other 44,999 denominations. Saint Paul rejoiced ‘just because’ Christ was proclaimed, and so should we rejoice.

Brethren, I want you to know that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.  What then?  Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.  Yes, and I shall rejoice.  For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope.

Philippians 1.12-20

Rejoicing that Christ is proclaimed is not the end. The question of ‘who’ is Jesus Christ where Saint Paul also reminds us. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2^nd Timothy 3.16)

This is in essence the crime of so many denominations. If I don’t agree with First Avenue Christian Church, I just leave and establish Second Avenue Christian Church. Eventually, the message of Christ ‘gets out’ but is so muddied that nobody knows the truth.

Denominations are ultimately the result of the devil working to constantly divide us as Christians. The devil sows confusion and pride in every human being, even among the Orthodox, even among mountain elders.

It may be that we can’t all be right about ‘who’ Jesus is, but it is our pride that stops us from admitting WE might be the wrong ones. That is why Saint Paul also spoke of correction. That is why the Church wrote the ancient Creed.

So, here’s the deal. Even if you are Orthodox (by birth or later in life) swallow your pride and admit you don’t know everything about God. Admit that even as Saint Paul had to be corrected (see Acts) then you and I will need correcting now and then.

If you think you are the sole possessor of the truth, you are no different than the other 44,999 denominations. If you think the entire Church has ‘sold out’ and you alone stand defending the faith, you might be proclaiming Christ out of partisanship. Just maybe.