In the heart of the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His followers: “Go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19). He did not say, “Go and make members of your denomination.”
Yet over time, many Christians have blurred the line between making disciples of Christ and recruiting for their own denomination. While belonging to a church community is vital for spiritual growth, the primary calling is to bring people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, not into an institutional identity.
The gospel is simple and powerful: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to save sinners. He died for our sins, rose again, redeemed us from the power and penalty of sin and offers eternal life to all who believe in Him and is faithful to Him till the end.This good news transcends denominational lines. It’s not about being Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Orthodox, or any other label — it's about being born again into the body of Christ.
When we introduce someone to Jesus, we are introducing them to life, hope, forgiveness, and purpose — not a brand, a tradition, or a set of secondary doctrines.
Once a person comes to faith in Christ, their spiritual journey has only begun. At this point, the Holy Spirit becomes their teacher, counselor, and guide. He will lead them to the fellowship, teaching and community that will help them grow — even if it's not the denomination we belong to.
As fellow believers, we can share the reasons why we chose our church or tradition, but we must resist the temptation to pressure others into conformity. The body of Christ is diverse by design and God may place someone in a different stream to fulfill a specific calling.
When we elevate our denomination above the gospel, we risk falling into sectarianism — the idea that our group is the only “right” one. This not only divides the Church, but it can also obscure Christ Himself from those seeking Him.
Paul warned the early believers: “One says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; ...Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:12–13)
Paul warned the early believers: “One says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; ...Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:12–13)
Today, we might say, “I’m Reformed”, “I’m orthodox” or “I’m non-denominational” — and while it's okay to have these identities, we must never let them overshadow our identity in Christ.
That said, we must ensure that the essentials of the Christian faith are clearly taught and affirmed — such as: The deity of Christ, Salvation by grace through faith etc. (covered earlier). These are non-negotiable truths that define orthodox Christianity.
On the other hand, non-essentials — such as end-times views, worship styles, or church government — can be explored by the believer through personal study of Scripture and the writings of early church fathers. These are matters where sincere Christians may disagree, and that’s fine.
As Romans 14:5 reminds us:
“Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
As Romans 14:5 reminds us:
“Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Our mission is clear: bring people to Jesus. Let them "taste and see" His love, His truth, and His transforming power. Point them to Scripture. Walk alongside them. Be patient. Let them wrestle, explore, question, and grow. And trust that God Himself is faithful to complete the work He begins in every believer (Philippians 1:6).
My approach is to share the raw, unfiltered Gospel with someone and focus first on leading them to Christ. After that, I give them the freedom to explore things like denominations and non-essential doctrines on their own. I do explain why I’m Catholic and share my personal testimony, but I make it clear that they shouldn’t adopt a particular belief system just because I follow it. Instead, I encourage them to let the Holy Spirit guide them.
In the end, it's not about growing our denomination. It's about expanding the Kingdom of God — one soul at a time.
Next, I’ll explain what led me to Catholicism and why I continue to follow it.
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