The Word, the Root, and the Branches Search for Unity

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. (Romans 11:17-21 NKJV)   

 

   According to church researchers most Christians have an ambiguous theology. We kind of know generally what denominations we disagree with, but we are unable to articulate the particulars of the disagreement. The Holy Spirit instructed me years ago to “die to denominationalism”. Over time I have concluded that every born again Christian is my brother or sister in Christ. This has made me realize that I am coupled at the root with believers with whom I may have sharp theological disagreement. It has become obvious over time, that two Christians, both bent on "rightly dividing the Word of God", my still find themselves in disagreement on minor theological issues. My sense is that God is focused on unity while our flesh, wanting to be right, distinguishes the differences.

 

   Reluctantly, I have tilted in favor of unity. It is amazing how my interaction has changed when I have abandoned the need to explain to others the failings perceived in their theology. I now consciously resist letting the theological anger of another lead to mine in return. Paul’s words to the church in Rome remind to re-center my focus on Christ -- But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

 

  

   This may seem to be an odd comment coming from a man who has written about the bible and the Lord for years, but I wonder if the root of our disagreement isn’t fed from our habit of spending more time reading the uninspired words written my mortals about the God than we spend simply reading the Word and praying. It seems we’ve become as a church a little obsessed with the next cool explanation. In other words, we boast about the man who has written about the Root rather than boasting about the Root he is writing about.   

   John Wesley called himself a man with a one book library. His method of bible study was simple. Read a verse and pray. If he still lacked understanding he next read every other verse about the same subject or that contained the same word and prayed more. Then he’d ask a trusted Christian friend to do the same and he’d discuss their understanding. (By the way, this included his dear friend George Whitefield who had a very different theological view). As a last resort he’d look to the church fathers and what they’d written.

   First the Root, then the branches.   

   Are you a student of the Word, or of what has been written about it by its branches?

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