The Historical Church of the Present

The more read in Church history, the more I am amazed that there is a church
at all. The more I read in Church history, the more I see the hand of God.
The more I read in Church history, the more confident and assured I become
of God's grace to us all, but especially to those called by Christ's name.

While I've not done extensive reading and research, it seems to me that most
of the divisions that have occurred in the Church have NOT been due to
theological differences. For the most part, it has been the pride and
arrogance of sinful human beings that have successfully divided the church
again and again and again. And it's not much different today. The main
reason why people leave this church to go to that church isn't because of
theology or doctrine or dogma. The main reason is - again - the arrogance
and pride of sinful human beings.

In the middle of the 11th century there occurred what has been called "The
Great Schism." It was the "official" division between the Church in the
West (Rome) and the Church in the East (Constantinople). There were a
number of issues that surrounded this division. There was the issue of from
whom the Holy Spirit proceeds - from the Father alone (as per the Orthodox
Church) or from both the Father and the Son (as per the Western Church).
There was the issue of the Pope - the first among equals (Orthodox view) or
vicar of Jesus Christ (Roman Catholic view). And there were other issues as
well. But none of these really kept the east and the west apart so much.
While they were clear on their respective convictions, each respected the
other and maintained communion with each other. But when a representative
of the pope was sent in 1054 to the Patriarch of Constantinople, the two
basically told each other, "This is the way it's going to be and if you don't
like it, lump it!" The Roman representative excommunicated eastern
patriarch and the patriarch excommunicated the Roman rep.

What's different today?

I have a lot of issues with a lot of my Christian brothers and sisters. I
have very strong opinions about what I believe constitutes a Spirit
empowered lifestyle and worship that conflicts with many other Christians'
perceptions. For the most part, I fairly convinced that you who are reading
this may very well be a Christian, but if you want to be a better Christian,
you just have to be a little more like me. And there are very few of us who
think differently.

I hate this way of thinking. Where is the grace!! If God has lavished his
grace on us (as we're told in Ephesians 1:7-8) then why do we act so
ungraciously towards each other?! You would have thought that after 2000
years we'd be a lot close to getting it right - but we're not.

O God, have mercy on us. Forgive us for misrepresenting you so heinously in
this world. If there is ANYBODY in this world we should be able to love it
should be our brothers and sisters in Christ. Why are we so intent on
destroying them if they disagree with us? O Lord, purge the evil from
within us. Let there be renewal and revival in the Church. May your Spirit
flood over us like a tsunami, washing away all the filth and garbage in our
lives. And if it takes the things that are most precious to us, maybe we
can be filled with the things that are most precious to You.