churches worked interdependently to meet that need—for ex- ample, the collection for the famine in Jerusalem (Acts 11:29; 2 Corinthians 8:4). The various churches of the New Testament, though indepen- dent, self-governing bodies, were definitely connected in fellow- ship and cooperative ministry, giving us an example to follow today. The measure of any church, whether inside or out of a denomination, is not how it is organized nor what name it is called, but rather how faithfully it adheres to the teachings of the Word of God. No church is inerrant, because churches are made of people who are capable of error. Even the apostles, with all the gifts God gave them, were not without error. Paul records in Galatians 2:11 that “when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” Peter, the first to give the gospel to a Gentile, gave in to pressure by the Judaizers to separate himself from Gentile believers. Paul's ability to confront Peter was not based on his position as an apostle, but on the revealed truth of God's Word. Paul complimented the believers in Berea (Acts 17:11) for checking his own teaching against the Bible to find out if he was telling them straight doctrine. All believers need to be like the Bereans, checking what we are taught against the Word of God to find out if those things are so. If our church is out of line with God's Word, we must lovingly, patiently give instruction or correction. If it will not be correct- ed, then we should seek out a church that is faithfully obeying God's Word. There are no specific Bible verses that mention non-denomina- tional churches, as the concept of denominations did not exist during the time of the Bible. However, here are some Bible verses that talk about unity and the importance of focusing on Christ rather than denomina- tional differences: 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) says, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divi- sions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
John 17:20-23 (NIV) says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Yours in Christ
Bishop Dr. Godfrey A. Stubbs
Colossians 3:14 (NIV) says, “And over all these virtues put on
First Lady, Pastor Shelia Stubbs
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