The Bungee Cord. 4-5-25

Hello,

The death of Pope Francis is news the world around. I was watching one of the network national news shows and discovered that the news programming is going to come from the Vatican until the new pope is selected. Clearly, Christians and non-Christians are finding themselves in the know about a major event in the Roman Catholic expression of the Christian faith.

To many who look at Christians from outside of the faith, and also many who are on the inside, the denominational makeup of Christians is confusing. People ask, “Why all these denominations?” Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutherans, Episcopal, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Baptist, Quakers, Pentecostal…..on and on it goes. And even within these denominations there are separate groups. Within the denomination of which I am a pastor, Lutheran, there are ELCA Lutherans (of which I am one), Missouri Synod Lutherans, Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, Lutheran Brethren, North American Lutherans, and numerous smaller groups of Lutherans, and that is just in the United States. “Why all these different groupings? Can’t we just be Christians?”

Well, my answer to the question, “Can’t we just be Christians?”, is , “We are.” All those who profess God as triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are Christian. Early in the development of the Christian faith, Christians developed a couple of universally accepted statements of faith, the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed to lay out the kernel of the Christian faith, and in many Churches of many of the denominations, one of these creeds is recited each week in worship, aligning the worshippers with Christians from the beginning of the faith. In reciting the Creed, in no matter what denomination it is said, we are saying to each other and to the world, “We are Christians.”

So, “Why all these different groupings?” Well, I find myself saying, “Because God is big enough to wrap his arms around people who are very different.” In my understanding, just like shoes, one size does not fit all. So, using the shoe analogy, the multiplicity of denominations is a result of the size of people’s feet and the kind of shoe that various people need. In my mind, no group of Christians has the corner on the truth, but each group provides a Biblically legitimate corner of the truth where individuals can find a place for themselves, and when all the corners are joined together, so also is the truth. Mixing the metaphors, I see the Christian faith akin to an orchestra, where each section of the orchestra, under the direction of the conductor (Jesus), does its best to play its part of the score, and when that happens, beautiful music is made. Music that is made by only one instrument is limited in its expression and fullness.

Unfortunately, there is another reason for the numerous denominations, and that is people are sinful, and that sinfulness cleaves the Church. We are not always very good at getting along with each other and practicing the humble love that Jesus embodied. That, in my mind, is sad.

So, if you are one who is asking, “Why all these groupings?”, I hope that this Bungee Cord has helped you understand, but more so, I hope that it has helped you see that no matter who you are (no matter what shoe you wear, or what instrument you play), Jesus has created a space just for you. A place where his love for you resonates with your heart. A place where you find strength and hope to step out into the world. A place where forgiveness and mercy shape your life, and a place where peace embraces your days.

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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