Today, we continue to discuss the question—what function do individual church members serve in the community? The first responsibility of the individual church member is to his/her own family. After this is established, the next responsibility is to uphold God’s moral standard when electing government officials. The first standard holds the moral fabric of the family together and the second keeps the moral fabric of the governing bodies intact. The third responsibility will keep the moral fabric of the individual’s community from dissolving—share God’s Word with everyone in the community.

Jesus proclaimed, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Though this edict is to teach the entire world, it must fi rst begin with where you are currently living and then be expanded outward to all nations.

In today’s society, Christendom is so divided that even though its members comprise a majority of American culture, its moral standards are being ousted from its governmental structure. This is partially caused by the fact that there are very few who are bold enough to stand for what they believe and teach because of the fear of offending someone, but its primary cause is the division itself because as Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt. 12:25).

With every denomination teaching a contradicting doctrine, Christendom is destroying itself from internal rot, fighting a war with itself. In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub (Matt. 12:22-24). Jesus answered this accusation with, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26). In other words, if Satan is authorizing demon possession and also authorizing the casting out of a demon, then he is fi ghting against himself. This would be like a country going to war with itself and expecting to fight and win against a separate opponent at the same time. The result would be occupation by the enemy and desolation of the country. This is exactly why Christendom is losing the fight for our country to the morally despicable because within the denominational world, no one can agree and each one teaches a different doctrine.

This is the exact problem the Corinthians were struggling with when Paul chastised them: “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Cor. 1:11-14). Paul’s plea to them was “that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). This is the same plea that Jesus made in His prayer for unity/oneness that John recorded in John chapter seventeen.

The only solution to the problem of division, and hence destruction, is to all teach the same thing, do away with denominationalism, and get back to the Word of God, so we don’t bite and devour one another and therefore consume one another (Gal. 5:14). If we will do this, our efforts to teach the Word and spread the gospel will begin by uniting our community in the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17). Our responsibility is to teach the truth in love and share God’s Word (Eph. 4:15).

Just something to consider.