IS THERE A DOCTRINE IN 'THE HOUSE'?

WELL: The place where we get our water. The water is life. It represents knowledge which brings life. The wells we worship at are our doctrines, represented by our denominations. The water of life is pure, but it can be polluted or diluted by what kind of container (well) it dwells in. Allow me to spiritualize the story of Jesus at the well in Samaria. He is looking for refreshment at her church (well). She is surprised to find him even showing up at her place of worship! "you a Jew, and I'm a Samaritan. How is it you ask me for a drink?" Or maybe "you're a full gospel, and I'm a Methodist. How is it you are looking for spiritual refreshment (a drink) at our church?" Charismatic if they were honest with themselves would consider it a step down to drink at another fountain. Not that they are truly better, It's just that speaking in tongues is a sign of a fuller deeper walk. (tongue in cheek or better yet.. tongue in check) But it is not my goal to pick on the Pentecostals, my target is much wider,

Jesus of course is interested in sharing not so much the well, but rather what it holds. He lets her know that there is a well and water which is better than what she offers. Her response is what I have found to be universally the case in all denominations. "My daddy (Jacob) believed in (drank) these doctrines, and so did his daddy and his daddy. Do you think you are better than they?" She and every denomination ever formed thinks theirs is the best. arid she has several generations backing her up to prove it. Surely if this well was good enough for her ancestors, its good enough for her,

Yet Jesus wants to show her a greater way. He tells her ,if she drinks from her well she will thirst again. He offers water which will truly quench: a superior quality. She responds the way we should ,but don't. Sir, give me this water." Oh we say, even believe , that we do this. We may want to be that way. But if we remain so cocksure the doctrines in our house (temple) are the paragon by which to judge our brothers, then we are still housing new wine (his water) in old wineskins. old cisterns. She knew "our fathers worshipped on this mountain. (in this way: denomination), but she was humble and malleable to the Holy Spirit's leading her to a

fuller spiritual life. He speaks. True worshipers will worship in spirit and truth' That precludes judging: grading our fellow students of the word, It. is the professors job to grade our papers (life scroll) not the students.

The man made doctrines we form to hold the water, pollute the water. It. dilutes the word of God and it divides. It can never truly satisfy'. Now! realize all you various 'wells" in the body of Christ don't believe your doctrines are man made. More like God ordained. But that. just ain't: so. Anything added to "Jesus Christ and him impaled." is doctrine, And if there is a doctrine In your house, it will divide you to some degree from his body. Doctrine divides, and I mean BIG TIME! Division in his body is one of the most serious ailments, for it impedes us from being productive and effective. It imbues an aroma of superiority which is anathema to the spirit of Christ. Christianity is a way of superiority, it. is a. superb way of life. Super stems from Latin which means above. Christians are meant, to live above, not others, but above their circumstances. The source is superior, not the vessel it pours through, People choose a denomination (defined by it's dogma) to belong to. That In itself is fine. But if you ever leave off the worship, up building, and outreach, and start to judge your brothers in Christ by their doctrines, then you are working against your master. I don't believe we should ever judge a fellow believer based on his opinion of what God's word says. Believers have been debating, arguing, and warring over this since the messiah's arrival. It will never be settled this side of the curtain.

If we should occasionally judge, let it be according to their fruits not their doctrines. If I know a person who exercises faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ by manifesting love, joy, peace etc.. then that settles it for me. He's my brother. If I find that, I will not let his doctrine separate me from him. To worship in spirit and truth. Although there is a balance to he maintained, I believe that of the two spirit is more vital. Much like mercy and judgment. Both essential, but one triumphs rightly or justly over the other. You could have just a little truth: God is Love. or Jesus died for you, and a whole lot of spirit, and get to heaven hearing "well done". But the reverse: a lot of "truth" (a human judged item), and just a wee bit of spirit, and you might just end up like the slave who hid his talent..

The tantamount importance of not, letting doctrines divide you from his body is perfectly reflected in Christ's final recorded prayer. The thrust, the pinnacle of the whole petition was that, "They may be one just as we are one," Over and over and over in his supplication we see that his heart's cry was for oneness, Oneness means wholeness. Satan knows when you divide; you conquer. If we have a them and us mentality, it is divisive thinking. And I don't mean just judging our fellow believers as Christian or not, but also judging them weak, (He says, "I can make them strong,". or immature (His Holy Spirit can grow them up and teach them better than you.), or less wise (He might pick a foolish one to make you wish you had not been wise in your own eyes).

Jeremiah backs up this spiritualization of the Samaritan woman In chapter two, verse thirteen. "My people (Christians) have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water (any spiritual) adultery including too much importance of dogma.) and have dug their own cisterns (wells), that cannot hold water"

Unity can be achieved through feigned acceptance. fear, laws and regulations as in cults. But only rightly motivated unity will please Him! To allow the doctrine in your house to ever divide you from Christ's body in any area is perhaps the most pitifully perfect example of a phyric victory. Win the battle (our way of interpreting this scripture) Loose the war. Oneness. If you would give up that battle, we just. might win the warring between ourselves. Oneness: when on death row, it. was His last request.