Branded by God, Part 1

What Brand of Christian Are You?

What brand of cereal did you have for breakfast this morning, Kellogg’s or Post?
Did you put on your Nike or Adidas running shoes last time you went for a jog? Many people identify with the brand of car they drive, the grocery store they shop in, the jeans they wear. Is it possible that our most intimate spiritual beliefs in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have also been branded? And if so, what brand of Christianity are you?

The Branding of a Church

I’m sure some of you are a bit uneasy with the idea of “brands” of Christianity. But I think if you start listing the names of some denominations, ministries, and churches, you will realize that these are just different organizations of people who identify with a certain set of beliefs that are usually based on different interpretations of what the Bible, God’s Word, says about Jesus Christ.

The “branding” occurs as an organization seeks to identify itself and its mission in a way that is uniquely different and of a higher quality than its competition. A church or ministry may adopt a distinctive name, perhaps even a logo. It may distinguish itself by having a fiery preacher or evangelist to bring in the people. It may dress up the service with drama, music, elaborate productions, or ritual to attract the masses. It may simplify or even eliminate its creed to avoid offense.

 What’s wrong with different brands of Christianity?

The trouble with Christian church brands begins when the ministry, church, or denomination, styles itself as the one with the corner on truth, or a more superior knowledge of truth, or considers themselves more loving, more giving, or even more righteous than other churches.

This worldly judgment causes division and strife between church groups who compete among themselves for members and money. They fail to recognize that the real competition for the hearts of men and women is between Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the god of this world, Satan.

Has God branded a Christian church?

Yes! Everyone who has confessed with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in their heart that God raised him from the dead, is saved. They are born again, having received the gift of holy spirit, and are now God’s own, His sons and daughters. The Amplified Bible version of Ephesians 4:30 reveals “God’s own,” marked out on earth as His, by holy spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 [AMP]:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].

God’s Organization – The One Body of Christ

This called out group has been organized by the spirit of God to be one body in Christ, each individual a member in particular in the body of Christ; Christ is the head. No one member or group of members is more important or of more value to God than another, and each of us is to honor the other, showing the same care for one another.

I Corinthians 12:14-27: 
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

No schism, no division in the body of Christ

That’s what God wants and expects from all members of the body of Christ, to have the same care one for another.  And that starts with recognizing that each and every born again believer is a member of the body of Christ. So no matter what the name on the sign of the church we attend says, no matter how influential the denomination, no matter how many members in my ministry, no church or individual believer is any “better” than another, and none is of less value. God has made us all one in the body of Christ.

NEXT TIME: How Are We Supposed to “Keep the Unity of the Spirit” in This Dark World?