That They All May Be One: Experiencing the Breadth of Christian Traditions

Photo by ArtHouse Studio on Pexels

Everyone does it. We all at some point in our lives visit a church that is outside of our own tradition. Perhaps you can even recall the first time you entered a church markedly different from your own. Often when we encounter believers from other denominations and traditions, our minds get inundated with a flurry of thoughts and emotions. This experience is frequently heavy and exacerbated because the modern church has devolved into divisive tribalism that points spears and arrows at every minute difference between believers. Christ wants us to encounter other believers from different traditions. Why? Because we are always called to grow as believers and participating in the worship and work of other traditions provides fruitful avenues for such growth.

In Richard J. Foster’s Streams of Living Water, he demonstrates that there are six different streams of Christian tradition that all flow from Christ’s Spirit like a rushing river flows from its source. The six streams he identifies are Evangelical, Incarnational, Contemplative, Holiness, Social Justice, and Charismatic. All these aspects of the faith embodied in these traditions are perfected in the person of Jesus Christ, but as the Church moved through history these streams diverged and have never fully reconciled. We could spend our entire lives in one stream and never once wade over to another riverbank to be refreshed by the same life-giving Spirit. But we should make every effort to see our brothers and sisters in the faith who are truly redeemed as an expression of Christ’s varied Spirit. 

Holy Scripture emphasizes the fundamental unity of all true believers: Jesus Christ and His work of salvation on the Cross. Here are several verses regarding Church unity to contemplate deeply and pray over as we consider visiting other churches:

In Christ’s High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays, “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one”( Jn. 17:10-11 ESV). 

He goes on to pray: 

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you have loved me (Jn. 17:20-23 ESV).

Likewise Paul writes to the divisive and carnal Corinthians, “I appeal to you brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10)

He later encourages the Ephesians with these words: 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all and in all (Eph. 4:1-7). 

When we visit another church, we should strive to conform our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit’s desire for the Church to be one in Him. This allows us to receive the benefits of visiting other traditions and denominations as the Lord intends. Visiting other denominations draws us closer to one another as believers and to Christ Himself. 

Here are five areas everyone should strive to grow in while visiting other churches. 

1. Growing in Self-Awareness

Paul writes to Timothy that there are sins that are conspicuous and some that need to be rooted out under deep investigation and searching. When we visit another denomination, we are given a great opportunity to evaluate whether the response of our heart is truly righteous. We grow in self-knowledge of how we react to encountering other believers. Do we respond with fear? Does our heart swell with pride for our own seemingly superior denomination? Do we become inwardly outraged? Or do we experience joy in the Holy Spirit, or perhaps a deep sense of gratitude for these believers? We must confront the state of our hearts and ask ourselves, “Is this a holy response?” This self-awareness allows us to grow in holiness.

2. Growing in Faith 

Peter writes in his second epistle that there is a ladder of growth in the faith that we must all climb. We must add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and most importantly, love. Visiting churches of other traditions allows our faith to grow in these areas by encountering the gifts, talents, and unique expressions of the faith of other believers. We experience Christ in the service through their sacraments, worship, preaching, and fellowship. In this way, visiting churches becomes like a spiritual discipline that refines our faith and grows it.

3. Growing in Truth

Denominations are formed principally because of differences in doctrine and practice. Nevertheless, each denomination stresses certain truths in a unique manner that give us an avenue to grow in truth. Hearing different preaching styles, different theological emphases, and different verses preached on a subject encourages us to seek truth in a deeper way. To seek truth is to seek Christ. Hearing new perspectives or theological differences can rekindle our passion for Scripture reading or spark a question that we must seek answers for. This allows us to defend our own beliefs better and perhaps to see weaknesses in our arguments. Every visit is an invitation to seek and find God’s truth.

4. Growing in Humility

Pride is often the spiritual poison that sows deep-seeded divisions in the Church. It is the most Satanic of the sins because it devalues others at the expense of our own glorification. When we engage with other believers, we must confront our own preconceived notions about them. Throughout the service it is possible to mull over assumptions about our fellow believers in our minds while exonerating ourselves from any spiritual fault. This pride is often cured by humble and loving conversations with other believers and engaging in their worship and services. Pride always assumes and never listens. Humility loves and serves without condition and is rooted in Christ’s mind. This simple action could lead us to growing exponentially in our humility before God and other people.

5. Growing in Love

Each stream flows from Christ, the Fount of all Love. Every time we engage with believers, with the Family of God, we participate in divine love. Our Savior gently reminds us that the world shall know that we are Christians by our love. The Apostle John says that we have passed from death to life when we love our brethren. In striving at all costs to keep the unity of the Church we will inevitably grow in love. How? The Spirit pours into our hearts fresh, burning love for Jesus Christ, which we can then pour out onto sinners and saints alike. Love believes all things. Love rejoices in truth. Love is not prideful. Love is not selfish. Love makes and seeks peace (e.g. 1 Cor. 13:7). It takes Christ to love other believers from different denominations. Every fellow believer in Christ is a unique invitation to His infinite love for His body, the Church. 

Christ is present within His Church, and we all play a part in manifesting His person and character on the earth. When we grow in faith with fellow believers, we reflect the very nature of God. If we are not willing to branch out and visit other denominations, we could very well miss witnessing and being encouraged by a beautiful reflection of Christ. We ought to make more concerted efforts to grow closer to our Lord and to His body by humbling ourselves and worshiping with people who are not exactly like us. We cannot be afraid to try the waters of these different streams of faith, for we know that they flow from Christ Himself. We may also encounter serious errors and distortions of the Gospel, but we must address these without falling into sin ourselves. By reaping the benefits of visiting our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith, we will be postured to lovingly seek unity at all costs, but also to stand for our convictions free from pride and assumption. Every sojourning pilgrim believer will experience the fallenness of this world in the divisions of the Church, but we all have the same hope for an undivided Church united to Christ in Eternity. For that we can all cry with one voice: “Maranatha!”

Tucker McDonald is a missionary with the United Methodist Church currently serving in Tanzania and is scheduled to return in May of 2023.