Psalm 119:17-32

Gimel
17 Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
18 Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.
19 I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me!
20 I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.
21 You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed.
22 Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws.
23 Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.Daleth
25 I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.
26 I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees.
27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
29 Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
30 I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.
31 I cling to your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.

They were called the "Hook and Eye" Baptists. They were a denomination formed specifically for the purpose of eschewing the evils of the modern day zipper.

Now...that's biblical purity!

Except...there are not any teachings about zippers in the Bible. Historically, there are really only five basic tenets that are considered "fundamental" to our faith: 1.The authority and inerrancy of scripture 2. The virgin birth and Deity of Jesus Christ 3. Substitutionary atonement through the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ 4. The bodily resurrection of Christ 5. Christ's second coming, the Day of Judgement and salvation of the faithful.

Yet, these five fundamentals have spawned scores of denominations. Very sad. How do you suppose this impacts the authority of our faith? Well, look around.

Brethren Church
Church of the Brethren
Evangelical Friends International
Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Friends General Conference
Friends United Meeting
Mennonite Brethren Churches
Mennonite Church USA
Old Order Amish Mennonite Church
Baptist
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Association
American Baptist Churches
Baptist Bible Fellowship International
Baptist General Conference
Baptist Missionary Association of America
Conservative Baptist Association of America
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
National Association of Free Will Baptists
National Primitive Baptist Convention
North American Baptist Conference
Southern Baptist Convention
African-American Baptist
National Baptist Convention of America
National Baptist Convention, USA
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Churches of Christ
International Churches of Christ
Anglican Church in North America
Episcopal Church
Old Roman Catholic Church
Polish National Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Church of God (Anderson)
Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Free Church of America
Church of the Nazarene
Salvation Army
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Wesleyan Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Free Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Orthodox Church in America
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Serbian Orthodox Church
Armenian Apostolic of Am.
Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Am.
Coptic Orthodox Church
Assemblies of God
Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
Church of God in Christ
Church of God of Prophecy
Full Gospel Fellowship
Intl. Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Intl. Pentecostal Holiness Church
Pentecostal Church of God
Oneness Pentecostal
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
United Pentecostal Church Intl.
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Korean Presbyterian Church in America
International Council of Community Churches
National Assoc. of Congregational Christian Churches
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church in America
Reformed Church in America
United Church of Christ
Church of Christ, Scientist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Community of Christ
Grace Gospel Fellowship
Independent Fundamental Churches of America
Jehovah's Witnesses
Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
Plymouth Brethren
Vineyard USA

Then, of course, we have that denomination that claims "NOT" to be one...all the independent (non-aligned) churches. I'm sure I missed some.
Now, let me ask...do you think this is the work of the Holy Spirit or the human spirit?
How do you suppose this happened? Certainly not because biblical doctrine is that obscure or broad. More likely it's because Christians did not want to subordinate their own views to the views of others...to the point that many of these denominations refuse to even join together to worship the "Author and Finisher of our faith"
I'm not suggesting we have a "Jesus moment" and flee our local church. I think denominations will be with us until Jesus returns. My bet is they will then disappear. And...my point isn't to "bash" denominations. My point is that we take a reflective look and ask ourselves how this happened...and how we can we can "make silk out of a sow's ear." In other words, how can we lift up the name of Christ in a powerful transformative way in the middle of all this divisiveness?

David says "Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds." The obvious implication is that human beings can take something as powerful and precious as the Word of God and wring all the life out of it. David's humility is very unlike church leaders today...after all, everything they need to know they learned in seminary!

But, the logic is unassailable. If you prayed that prayer, and I prayed that prayer, do you think God would tell us different things? It may be time to rally around what unites us, not what divides us.

Live boldly out there today...