I heard a quote from Pastor Leo Giovinetti today that really sums up some problems people have in the church all the way back to the church in Corinth and even the Levitical priesthood through the Pharisees and Sadducees.
He said we have to unlearn Calvary Chapel. Unlearn United Methodist. Unlearn Southern Baptist. Instead we need to sit with Jesus. This is a profound statement that comes straight from the heart of Jesus. It is found in the gospels. The Pharisees were too tied up in their tradition. They had forgotten God. The Corinthians were arguing amongst themselves who was the better leader to follow, Paul or Apollos. They had forgotten the one they were supposed to be following. The Ephesians held fast to doctrine very well. They weeded out the false prophets and teachers, but in the process they had forgotten their first love.
It will do us well to ask ourselves what is more important. The institution we attend or the one that institution serves? Unlearn Calvinism. Unlearn United Methodist. Unlearn Baptist. Unlearn Calvary Chapel. Unlearn Catholocism. Unlearn Lutheranism. Sit with Jesus.
If this statement offends you. Consider why that might be. Do you put your faith in the institution, or the one the institution was originally set up to serve?