What do you believe?
The Holy Spirit is drawing the children of obedience together from all faiths and denominations. We are as diverse as our physical bodies. Paul described us as One Body...
(1 Cor 12:12-14) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
So how does such a diverse group function as one? We each have our doctrines, our dogmas, our liturgies. Can we come together as One Church? Find some common ground? And to do that what will we abandon? After all, much of our most cherished traditions blend together like water and oil. Paul continued in his analogy of the 'body'...
(1 Cor 12:15-20) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.
We do not lose our diversity in our unity. We are not called to become an homogeneous mass, our diversity is our strength. But we are called not to war with one another. Again Paul explains this...
(1 Cor 12:21-25) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
So we are called to fellowship together, while keeping our diversity. We are one, yet each of us, personally and denominationally, are called to our separate funtion. If we drive away any member, because they don't seem to 'fit in', then the whole body suffers lose. But where do we draw the line, and what are the basic principles on which we all stand?
The Basics:
There are many truths deeper than these simple statements. Infinity would not contain all that could be written concerning the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are mysteries within their relationship, beyond our mortal minds ability to understand. As Paul said... (1 Cor 13:12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
We can stand together on these basic things, and worship our GOD in Spirit and in Truth. Each of us walking, as the Holy Spirit guides, trusting Him to bring unity from our diversity. Yes we must be vigilant of the false spirits and the "doctrines of devils", but (1 John 4:2-3) "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." We can stand together as long as we all have our eyes on Jesus. He is the Key of our fellowship and our salvation. We are One Body, and Jesus Christ is the Head.
(Eph 4:4-6) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.