Years ago I had a pastor ask me
what denomination I was raised in. I
explained I was raised in a Christian home and we attended Methodist then
American Baptist, then after college I went to a non-denominational church, then
a Four Square Church, then a Church of God. He laughed and said, “Oh, so you’re
a mutt. Then we’ve got some work to do.” I was very offended and had actually enjoyed
the exposures to different ways of worship and expressions of faith. As I struggled
with this judgment God showed me that I was just what He wanted me to be. During that next week I heard the phase “spiritual
mutt” several times - all in a positive light.
Some very well-known pastors and teachers even called themselves mutts. Needless to say, I didn’t spend much time with
that other pastor again.
The idea of a spiritual mutt is
not knew to God, so He wasn’t shaken like I was. Pure breeds are like the
Israelites in the Old Testament, or Jews as they are called in the New Testament.
Mutts are Gentiles (aka - everyone else). Each having their purpose and God given
design. As I was preparing for this blog God gave these acronyms:
MUTT = Multi Use Testimony Telling.
Salvation shared to all through personal stories of how Jesus touched them.
PURE = Purposed Use Relationship
Evangelism. Jew sharing with Jew that the Messiah had come.
We see the design and usefulness
highlighted for each group in how the four gospels were written. The Book of Matthew was written for the Jewish
people and The Book of John was written to the Gentiles. Each group would need
to see Jesus from their own perspective so a way was created. Also, Jesus set
up two different men to lead each group – Peter for the Jews and Paul for the
Gentiles. Trouble comes when people decide that their way is the best and
dismiss others or worse, make statements that insinuate the others aren’t
really Christians. This problem is not
new but actually started happening as recorded in the New Testament letters to
the first churches. 1st Corinthians chapter 1 (written by Paul) gives
us a small glimpse into the life of the new church. Verse 10 reads, “I appeal to you brother and
sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one
another and that there be no division among you but that you be perfectly
united in mind and thought.”
God loves us all and has created
a way for all to come home to Him. Jesus
died for all sinners; Jew and Gentile. Through Him we are all born again into
His breed. HIS = Holy in Spirit. If you look back at verse 2 you’ll find this
term HIS used. “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Crist Jesus
and called to be HIS Holy people, together with those everywhere who call on
the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ…”
No longer are we Jew or Gentile,
Pure or Mutt, but we are HIS. Born, not of manmade worship styles or religious
definitions, but born of God in Spirit. This is the only breed to be.
**Lord, I thank you that you made
me who I am and that you called me to be yours according to your plan. I’m so happy to know you personally, beyond
denominations and any religious label.
Forgive me for anytime I may have judged someone’s way of loving you.
Please help me see other people as my brothers and sisters.**
“I always thank my God for you
because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)
Click here to see a story about Earl the Mutt
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