Let us repent of our sectarian ways!

An open letter, from Theophilus, a missionary elder, called, ordained and equipped by our Lord Jesus Christ to serve all of God’s people: to the Church of God scattered across North America – to all who, with me, call upon Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life.
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Great God and Saviour. This is the same Jesus who is: “The Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29).” Amen.
My brethren - my fellow bond servants: how is it that we have fallen so far? - why are we so filled with division, strife and envy? - how is it that our sectarian views have so readily set one group of us against another? - why are we so quick to embrace the precepts and commandments of men? - rather then the fullness of God’s Word!
The answer lies in our sinful condition – in believing that we are right and everyone else is less right. In our own eyes – we believe we are right (Prov 21:2); and thus we continue in our sinful ways of being set one against the other. May the Lord our God have mercy on us and deliver us from this bondage, this pit of division, into which we have so readily fallen and so willingly promote.
In one place it is recorded (Mk 12:18-27), that a group of the Jewish Sanhedrin, holding to a sectarian view on the resurrection, had come to Jesus to lay their case before Him. Before our Lord corrected them, He first rebuked them by saying: “you are deceived, because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God.” He then proceeded to correct them by revealing the truth of the scriptures. Let me suggest, my most beloved brethren, in a most emphatic way, that we continue in our own sectarian ways because we are “deceived” and “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
In another place, it is recorded (1 Cor 3:1-4), that the Corinthian church was called to task for their peculiar sectarian views. Their perspectives had caused them to remain and continue as “babies in Christ” – not ready for the “solid food” of the Word of God. Their condition is likened to that of “typical men.” Earlier in the text (1 Cor 2:14), it is demonstrated, that these “typical men,” these “natural men,” consider the things of the Spirit of God as “foolishness.” They cannot comprehend these deep things of the Spirit of God, because their sectarian views keep them in bondage as “babies in Christ.” Our condition, my brethren, is the same. Our sectarian views have so hindered our ability to understand the Word of God, that we continue as “babies in Christ,” unable to feed and grow from the “solid food” of God’s Word. We continue to be sectarian because we are “babies in Christ” and not fit for “solid food.” Our lack of “solid food” causes us to continue being deceived, because we “do not know the scriptures or the power of God.”
How is it then, that we can escape so great a bondage? It is a simple thing my brethren – we must “repent and believe the gospel.” Jesus says, in one place (Jn 8:32), that if we are “truly His disciples,” we must “continue in His word,” then we “shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.” Please be reminded, that it is “His Word.” The Word of God is not subject to the peculiar interpretation of a peculiar sectarian idea or viewpoint. The Word of God is subject to Christ and Christ alone!
In one place (Eph 4:1-6), we are reminded of our “calling” to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In every way that we assert our peculiar sectarian views, we violate this command of the Lord our God and we sin in a most grievous way; and we continue as “babies in Christ.” Let us repent my brethren, of our sectarian ways; and let us then be mature Christians, visibly one in Christ. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you my beloved brethren. Amen.

Your servant and fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus