Got Heaven?

During my time in CPE I have worked closely with other Christians from different denominations.  While I find the LCMS doctrine sound, there is one thing that has been bothering me.  It is the denominational pride that people feel.  As if they are so sure they have it correct and everyone else has it wrong.  What is this.  Does this mean that, that denomination is so sure they are  correct in every aspect, that they are the only ones who will be in heaven?  While I think that if you asked a person that question they would say, "Oh no the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ!" Yet,  I see this attitude among people.  

As I study Ephesians I see where God is talking about Redemption saying it doesn't matter if you are male or female, Jew or gentile, and I see this being taken out of context, when it could be used is such a powerful way.  God sees us as his children, whether we are Lutheran or Catholic, Baptist or Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ, or Presbyterian and we are redeemed through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Let's get real here and see that we are being called to be The One Body of Christ, not divided by our doctrines and creeds or lack of doctrine and creeds.  Faith is a gift that we get from God.  It is good no matter what day it is, it is not dependent upon our emotions of the day.  It is a Gift from God, always perfect always good.  Therefore if we are saying all that truly matters is our faith in Christ why is it that denomination matters so much?

I once heard one of my professors say, "Bad doctrine is like dirty water, it does not necessarily mean you will get sick from it, but the probability is a lot higher."  I think what he meant by this is that if you are focusing on anything except for "Theology of the Cross," you are more likely to fall away from Christ.  Does not mean the person will, it is just more probable.   So why all the smugness, why all the pride, why all the contempt and denomination bashing?  


The Theology of the Cross (Theologia Crucis) is a term coined by the theologian  Martin Luther to refer to theology that posits the cross as the only source of knowledge concerning who God is and how God saves. It is contrasted with the theology of glory (theologia gloriae), which places greater emphasis on human abilities and human reason.  Some theologies of glory would be prosperity theology, where a person would say, "Since I have been good and followed God's will for me I deserve good things," this theology fails when bad things happens to good people, as if they are being punished for something.  While the bible does show us God does punish for disobedience, we would be speculating and not letting God be God if we were to use this theology and label all bad things in the world as coming from God.  I am a LCMS Lutheran and believe that bad things in the world comes from sin, death, and the devil not from God.  And I also believe that over explanation of things can lead to me adding things that would serve me, instead of God.


Any way back to Loving thy neighbor which is what I was talking about.  I believe if I am grounded in my beliefs and know what my beliefs are, seeing others believe slightly different about things or having their own opinion on things, as long as they still have faith in Christ, and are repentant for their sins, I will see them in heaven.  It is the nails in the cross, through our beloved Christ's hands, that should bind us together not our titles, and prideful ways.