Day 284

Matthew 15:21-16:12; Mark 7:24-8:21.  “Simple Faith”

         I have long struggled with the overabundance of denominations that we have within Christianity.  Certainly, there have been valid reasons involved that led to some of these divisions.  Taking a stand on issues such as the deity of Christ or salvation by grace alone through faith alone is never wrong.
         That being said, I am often bothered by the attitudes that I sometimes encounter as a result of denominationalism.  Accusing someone of not being truly saved because of a disagreement on a secondary or tertiary theological issue is not our place and yet it happens.  I hear some accuse people of other denominations of having an insufficient view of God because they are not five-point Calvinists.
         Jesus didn’t give the Gentile woman a theological pop quiz to see if she had all the right answers.  He recognized her faith, as simple as it may have been, and accepted her for it.  Like the thief on the cross, this woman’s salvation was not dependent upon right theology, but an authentic faith in the right One.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?