The Skyliner

Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Opinion

Ben Stevens
Staff Writer

Today, different schools of thought exist within the Christian church, such as Protestantism, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

One of the problems that may arise from these schools of thought is that they create problems of preference in the global church that leads to division in a group of people who should be united under the foundational ideals of our faith.

As the church continues in its history, I have seen our church falling into ethnocentrism in regard to those who differ in thinking from us, and we let the ethnocentrism get in the way of the God moving.

I am using ethnocentrism by its Merriam Webster definition, "characterized by or based on the attitude that one's own group is superior."

As a catholic, I have seen my faith made fun of and ridiculed because I have a different way of looking at Scripture than someone else. I have seen some of the doctrines I believe mocked because, "God wouldn't make us do that," or it's "not biblical." I have seen the same come out of the mouths of my brethren in reference to Protestant beliefs, stating that the Protestants have distorted Christianity beyond recognition.

I believe that these "doctrinal" differences, such as the importance of communion and the hierarchy of the church, are a difference of opinion and preference and are not a reason to split the global church.

In spite of all the church's differences, some doctrine is a solid and foundational part of the Christian faith, such as baptism and the practice of communion. But some of the small things that people label as doctrine should not create walls between members of the body of Christ that cannot be overcome, such as the "standard" of worship many people hold so dear to.

The point is that we are the body of Christ.

Everyone who has professed a faith in Christ is included in that statement. This includes Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox. So, we should treat our brothers in Christ as such and not allow opinions to get in the way of Christ working.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools