He Ain't Heathen, He's My Brother

I am an only child. I know because my brother did the work to figure it out. For those that know me, you're wondering how I can make an absurd statement like that, since you know my older or younger brothers and sisters. For those who don't know me, you may think that statement is odd since I wrote that I am an only child, yet I have a brother. I do have five brothers and five sisters. No, I was never in foster care, I was never adopted, and for this situation I am not claiming close friends as brothers and sisters. Before my parents married each other, they were married to others and had multiple children. My parents subsequently were married and then later divorced. I am the only child out of that union. After their divorce, they had more children in other relationships. Thus, I am an only child. Confused? You're not alone.
There is a prevalent thought amongst churches today that is similar to my situation. They feel that they are the only church, while the others are just half brothers and sisters. (Understand, that is a term I do not use and I despise. While many will consider my brothers and sisters as half brothers and sisters, I do not. They are my full brothers and sisters). Augustine is credited with saying, “Where there are essentials, let there be unity. Where there are non essentials, let there be liberty.”
Many years ago, I was a board member of the Abilene Area Youth for Christ. One of our purposes was to plug youth into a church. I took it upon myself to understand what various denominations taught. I found something shocking to the average lay person. The doctrines of all the churches agreed on the most essential teaching: Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father in Heaven and he was crucified and resurrected for the salvation of all mankind. What they disagreed on were non essential matters: musical instruments, gifts of the Spirit, methods of baptism, sanctification and holiness, and other non essential matters not relating to salvation.
This separation of church and church can be traced back to Jesus' time on the earth. The disciples ran up to him ecstatic that they stopped another person from doing any work in Jesus' name. They wanted to be congratulated, patted on the back, given thumbs up with an “atta boy way to go” from Jesus. They were shocked by his response, “But Jesus said, 'Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.'” (Mark 9:38 ESV) Jesus didn't want his closest followers to stop other people from doing work, why should we?
Jesus takes this concept a little further by stating that the world will recognize his followers, by the love that they have for one another, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34 ESV). Notice, he did not say to love only those in your denomination, or even those in your church. We are to love all our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's not about the name that is written in the door. It's about the name that is written in the heart. Only then we can point to our brothers and sisters and say, “He ain't heathen, he's my brother.”