Are You In the Right Denomination?
By Anne Kim
With so many denominations, how do we know our church has the right take on Christianity?
Obviously not all Christians understand the Bible in same way. So they can't all be right. How, then, are we to understand the Bible? What is the Bible's message? What's right?
Finding the main idea
Jesus tells us what Scripture is about, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me" (John 5:39-40).
It may sound too obvious, but the Bible teaches us about God's salvation in Jesus. John says plainly, "These (Scriptures) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
After Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples did not understand the Scriptures yet. He explained, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:44-47).
When we understand the Scriptures, we understand that God's love in Christ is the main idea.
Don't all Christians believe in Christ?
All Christians believe in Christ as their Savior (that's what it means to be a Christian). But some lose focus on Christ as the main message. Other teachings-like predestination or a decision for Christ-take center stage. Sometimes people focus mainly on one book, such as Revelation. Sometimes the work of the Holy Spirit-important to all Christians-is put at the center stage.
Paul trusted so completely in the importance of Jesus' death and resurrection that he insisted nothing else be as important. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).
It is good for Christians to delve deeply into Scripture, including a look at the book of Revelation and the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember, however, we must remember that all Scripture points to Jesus Christ.
Christ is the truth
When we meet different Christian beliefs, we follow the example of the Bereans: "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11).
Christ is the truth, and the Scriptures testify about him. The right understanding of the Bible starts there.