"UNFOLDED" SHEEP
But there are other sheep of mine, not belonging to this fold, whom I bring in; and they too will listen to my voice. There will then be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16, N.E.B.
According to the listings of some authorities, in America today more than 265 denominations identify themselves as Christian. Some are small and almost unknown; others are large and historically well established. Each makes claims of being more correct, more in line with God's will, than the others Some denominations expend much energy pointing out the failings of other groups For the newcomer to Christianity, it can be a bewildering array of options: Which "fold" should a young sheep join? Whichever way he decided, as many as 264 groups may say he has made the wrong choice!
At a time when there was essentially only one group claiming to be the unquestioned "people of God," Jesus Himself said that there were people He would claim as His own who were not in that group. While that thought was very disturbing to the guardians of the "in group," it left others wondering just how one might know how to identify that true flock. But Jesus clearly announced who they were: They were the people who would listen to His voice.
On the surface, that may nor seem to help much. All of today's Christian groups claim to be listening to Jesus' voice, yet they still don't agree about what He is saying. It would be good, however, to remember what Jesus wanted to say more than anything else. He wanted to tell us about His Father. The common flock, the single fold, that Jesus foretold will be made up of people who have listened to His compelling messages about His Father.
When confronted with so many voices, so many competing claims to doctrinal rightness from today's varied groups, one issue rises to the top. Who is embracing and telling the truth about God? Who has the most integrated, sensible understanding of our heavenly Father? Whose portrayal of God is as warmly and intelligently inviting as was the message of Jesus? Considering that every doctrine is but a statement of how God goes about solving the sin problem, whose statement of beliefs casts God in the most winsome light?
Someday one single flock shall stand in the presence of our Father. Seeing Him face-to-face and hearing Him address them, they shall know that they are listening to a familiar voice!
But there are other sheep of mine, not belonging to this fold, whom I bring in; and they too will listen to my voice. There will then be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16, N.E.B.
According to the listings of some authorities, in America today more than 265 denominations identify themselves as Christian. Some are small and almost unknown; others are large and historically well established. Each makes claims of being more correct, more in line with God's will, than the others Some denominations expend much energy pointing out the failings of other groups For the newcomer to Christianity, it can be a bewildering array of options: Which "fold" should a young sheep join? Whichever way he decided, as many as 264 groups may say he has made the wrong choice!
At a time when there was essentially only one group claiming to be the unquestioned "people of God," Jesus Himself said that there were people He would claim as His own who were not in that group. While that thought was very disturbing to the guardians of the "in group," it left others wondering just how one might know how to identify that true flock. But Jesus clearly announced who they were: They were the people who would listen to His voice.
On the surface, that may nor seem to help much. All of today's Christian groups claim to be listening to Jesus' voice, yet they still don't agree about what He is saying. It would be good, however, to remember what Jesus wanted to say more than anything else. He wanted to tell us about His Father. The common flock, the single fold, that Jesus foretold will be made up of people who have listened to His compelling messages about His Father.
When confronted with so many voices, so many competing claims to doctrinal rightness from today's varied groups, one issue rises to the top. Who is embracing and telling the truth about God? Who has the most integrated, sensible understanding of our heavenly Father? Whose portrayal of God is as warmly and intelligently inviting as was the message of Jesus? Considering that every doctrine is but a statement of how God goes about solving the sin problem, whose statement of beliefs casts God in the most winsome light?
Someday one single flock shall stand in the presence of our Father. Seeing Him face-to-face and hearing Him address them, they shall know that they are listening to a familiar voice!
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