The View From Here: Reflections on the question: What religion are you?

In conversation with someone I have just met the question will invariably be asked by my new acquaintance, "What religion are you?"

To which I respond, "I am Christian."

Then my friend says, "No, I know that, I meant. . ."

"I knew what you meant," I replied, "but I answered the question you asked. What you wanted to ask is, 'What denomination are you?'"

"Yes, that's what I meant," the friend says with a look of inquiry still wanting to know what I am.

"United Methodist," I finally say (sometimes I like to be a little smart-aleck). "I am a Christian first and foremost and find that I am best able to serve Christ through The United Methodist Church."

You see, it really bothers me for people to think that the various denominations and fellowships of Christianity are different religions. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity are different religions. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Assemblies of God and a host of many more are one religion: Christian.

If we make the mistake in seeing the various denominations as different religions then we will find ourselves wondering what ever happened to the unity of Christ as the Apostle Paul understood it when he stated in one of his letters: "In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ" (The Message).

To see ourselves in this way as different religions brings, I believe, ridicule, suspicion and distrust of one another along with separation from on another. It develops in us the attitude that we are the "one, true church" and we look down on all others as going to the devil. And when we take an honest look around us, we find that those whom we label as "non-Christian" are behaving and acting more Christian than we who claim the name.

Although, it is no secret that the spirit of Christ can show up in the most unlikely places and people. As in 1945, when Japan had ended its occupation of Burma, many Christian feared for their lives due to roving Buddhist mobs. Christian theologian Anna May Chain says that during this time she and her family were taken in by friendly Muslims who hid the men in a mosque and the women were led from one safe house to another. Later their shelter came from Buddhists who jeopardized their own well-being by bringing food, medicine and clothing to them. They finally found refuge in a Catholic convent. At this very vulnerable time in the life of her family, Anna said that the Muslims, Buddhists, and Catholics were like Jesus to them, offering hospitality and charity.

It seems to me, therefore, that if we, in our various fellowships and denominations, claim the name of Christ we are challenged by that very name to family unity and a vow not to be less Christian than those who are not Christian.