Reaching out starts by listening to one's heart

This week I have learned about the movement of the Anabaptists and of other radical reformers. Before studying about this subject, I am already familiar with Anabaptists, in fact I thought of it as a "religion" but I was corrected by our lesson in Church History. Anabaptism is a movement in which the members, which are called Anabaptists, do not believe in infant baptism rather they believe that one must come to faith in Christ before being baptized. Anabaptists were reformation radicals. there are four groups of radicals. Firstly, the radical biblicists, who put aside all traditions and base their teachings only under the authority of Scriptures. Secondly, the radical kingdom builders who tried to claim and bring Christ's reign on earth by the sword and force. Thirdly, the radical mystics who believed that God's revelations are revealed to them. Fourthly, the radical free thinkers, who denied Christ's deity and the Trinity as well.

I have noticed now a days that some of the religious groups differ from each other in terms of beliefs, traditions, basis of beliefs and even how to be saved. Because of differences in doctrines, they tend to fight for what they think is right and ignore what the other groups claim. They tend to persecute and listen to others just to preserve what they stand for. All of these groups have some right and wrong doctrines circulating within their devotion. I notice that when people focus so much with their differences the tendency is that they want to argue with each other resulting to unpleasant behavior. Would not it be nice if all of the religious groups, particularly different denominations who claim to be Christians be gathered together and learn from each other's similarities and differences without persecution and arguments? Sad to say, before it never happened. They might be afraid of the loss they could get but would not it be a better gain if they have had a time when they focus even just one similarity that they had and laugh with each other about it? What I can comment about them is that, no one can ever judge or blame them for what had happened even though it cost hundreds of lives who lived back then because they might have been so zeal to preserve their faith. If no group ever stood bravely, I think this generation too, has become a time of confusion, killing and blindness of the truth that only God's grace through faith in Christ can one be saved.

Now that it has been clear to us all that there is no religion which can provide salvation to a person. Christ is the answer to all the questions of confused people. Christ is the basis for the true source of eternal life. Christ is the solution to the increasing wickedness in the world. If all Christians, regardless of their denominations, be gathered together in love and unity in the name of Christ, the real Savior will be manifested. The tendency why people get confused of what is the truth is because they tend to focus on the force of the world rather than the real source of the truth found in God's word. Who are to help them? it's us who know about it. We are to love, tell , and gather as one.

As a Christian, I have to be ready for all the possible happenings that I will encounter especially when I mingle with a person who has a different view of God. The way I can do to help that person is to listen to what she or he believes and slowly lead him or her not to my reason or knowledge but tell her or him my story from how I searched and became confused of the truth into how I have come to know Christ and be able to feel secured in His love and presence.