As Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built, so are his teachings the unifying cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

The Delusion of Exclusivism

Why do we have to be better than others in our own minds? Do we have that large an inferiority complex that we must belittle others and flatter ourselves? We delude ourselves that we have the secret formulas only available to the "very elect." Reasons to feel superior vary from individual to individual and group to group. It may be Methodism, Barthianism, Sabbataraianism, Calvinism, Catholicism, Successionism, Pentecostalism or Liberalism. We believe we have found a secret that nobody else can discover, but we all believe in Christ. That we are one in Christ negates the delusion. Anciently, Jewish Christians in Rome thought that they were more special than Gentile Christians. In Romans 3:22 the writer was quick to remind them that "there is no difference" and that ought to suffice. Let's escape the prison of self delusion and exclusivity and learn to appreciate the blessings God has given other churches.

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