THERE IS ANOTHER phase to this statement of Paul about “my ways in Christ” (1 Cor. 4:17). As the individual can have his unique and individual ways in Christ, so the group can also have their ways in Christ. There can be a unique and beneficial illustration of “ways in Christ.” This desire to illustrate forgotten or unemphasized phases of Christ has resulted in denominations. Some think these denominations “were conceived in iniquity, born in sin, and reared in cantakerousness.” I do not. I think they are attempts to throw fresh light upon the face of Jesus. They may do so provided it is “[our] ways in Christ” and not just “[our] ways.” If the emphasis is upon “in Christ” and not “in the denomination,” then Christ is constantly redeeming the denomination from itself. It is then Christ-centric and not denomination-centric.
If our ways are not attempts to be the way, but are simply ways to the Way, then they may be beneficial and beautiful. None of us has the truth; we have only truths about the Truth. Only Jesus is the Truth—“I am the way, and the truth” (John 14:6).
These truths about the Truth, these ways to the Way may be helpful if they cease claiming exclusive truth about the Truth and come together and pool their truths, so that together they may more closely approximate the Truth. Then they are justified—and sanctified! If they claim exclusive truth, then they are unjustified—and cranktified! I feel that the putting of all denominations into one system, a merger, would be impoverishing. A Federal Union of the Churches would bring these diversities into union without losing the diversities. It would be a richer union than a monolithic merger. In music it would not be a melody, but harmony; therefore richer. Our ways in Christ brought together would not be the Way, but would be a way to the Way.
O God and Father of us all, forgive our attempts to claim to be the way. Help us to point beyond ourselves and beyond our group to Him. Only thus can my ways and our ways be instruments of Thy redemption. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am a way in Christ, pointing to the Way—Christ.
