The Uniting Power of the Cross


There was once a man in Fayetteville, NC walking along the Cape Fear River Bridge, and he saw a preacher about to jump over the rail. He stopped him and said, "Surely it can't be that bad. You know God loves you."

The preacher got a tear in his eye. He said, "Son, you speak of God, but are you a Christian or a Jew or a Hindu?"

The fellow said, "I'm a Christian."

"Me, too” said the preacher. “Are you Protestant or Catholic?"

"I'm Protestant."

"I am, too. Are you of the English, Dutch, or German Reformation?"

“I’m English Reformation, I think.”

"So am I said the preacher. Anglican or Separatist?"

"Separatist, I guess."

"That's a miracle! I am, too. Are you Calvinist or Armenian?"
"Armenian.”

"Me, too said the preacher. Are you Episcopal, Methodist, or Baptist?

"Oh, I'm Baptist, John Smyth and Thomas Helwys founded our branch of the Baptist faith."

"Me, too. Are you General Baptist or Particular Baptist?

"I'm General Baptist heritage but Free Will Baptist by name of course."

"Oh, of course, well so am I. So, are you Cape Fear Conference Free Will Baptist or South Carolina Conference Free Will Baptist?” asked the preacher.

"I'm Cape Fear Conference Free Will Baptist of the General Baptist English Heritage.”

“Brother,” said the preacher as he stepped down from the bridge rail and embraced his rescuer. It is so good to know we are the same. Then the preacher began praising God in a loud voice and speaking in tongues.”

The man looked upon the preacher with concern and said, “I forgot to ask, are you Cape Fear Conference Original Free Will Baptist of the General Baptist English Heritage or are you Cape Fear Conference Pentecostal Free Will Baptist of the General Baptist English Heritage?”

The preacher replied, “Well praise the Lord Brother I am Cape Fear Conference Pentecostal Free Will Baptist of the General Baptist English Heritage.”

And the guy said, "Die, heretic, I am an Original Free Will Baptist," and threw him over the bridge.
(adapted from the work of others)


According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations and organizations in the world.

This is unfortunate, especially considering the the Apostle Paul warned us about the danger of giving in to divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10-18).

Paul urged the believers at Corinth to not be divided over secondary issues, but to be united to proclaim the gospel by the power of the cross.

Though it seems natural to be divided over many trivial things, the offensive gospel and cross of Jesus Christ has power to unite us all. We all come to the foot of the same cross.

I pray we will all put aside the trivial matters that unite us with some people while dividing us from others and unite with the people of God in proclaiming the gospel through the power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

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