Loving God and One Another – Greg Albrecht

Several months ago, with invited guests and our Advisory Board, we celebrated and honored Ralph Woodrow for the 68 years he has ministered to others. Ralph and I have been friends for well over 30 years, and three years ago he agreed to serve on our Advisory Board. The plaque we presented him read: “In recognition of your many decades of service as a minister of Christ. You have faithfully followed the Way and the Truth and the Life. With admiration and appreciation. Plain Truth Ministries.”

Ralph is, in my opinion, a bit of an iconic institution in North American Christianity. He writes (many books) and travels to speaking engagements, all in the name of Jesus Christ, without denominational support or overview. Solely representing Jesus Christ, the logistics of Ralph’s travels are somewhat like a 20th and 21st century version of circuit-riding preachers, back in the 1800s, as they traveled on horseback. He is a balanced and calming influence to the universal body of Christ.   

One of the most admirable traits I see in Ralph is the humility and grace of Jesus Christ. Ralph is a student and scholar of the Bible, always careful to respect the Bible and always careful not to claim his interpretation is the best or the only true interpretation of a given passage. Ralph has never, to my knowledge, presented himself and his viewpoints as the one and only way to understand the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, he is one of the few ministers/pastors/priests I know who have determined to change positions and even take his own books out of circulation when he discovered some of what he had previously said needed correction. By God’s grace, Ralph is filled with the wisdom of God, rather than religious pride or intractable denominational dogmatism.    

Here is an abbreviated excerpt of remarks my dear friend Ralph Woodrow made recently as he described his 68 years in ministry:

Because my ministry has never been locked into any one particular denomination, I have gleaned insights I may not have had otherwise—understanding what different Christian groups believe, including where they may differ and why. Fortunately, all Christians agree on far more than they disagree on.

More important than what “tag” we wear, is that we love one another. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). 

There is no need to make a “god” out of a denomination; but neither should we make a “god” out of not being a denomination. There is nothing wrong with a group having a distinctive history, founder, revival, or unique beginning—except when these things breed sectarianism. I have gleaned, directly and indirectly, from a number of different ministries, churches, and denominations. I do not say, “I have no need of you!” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:21).

The body of Christ is made up of individuals who may be different because of age, geography, travel, reading, employment, education, family, friends, heart, and mind. Yet in diversity there can be unity—when the common focus is that of “looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).

Needless division comes when we suppose that only the way WE do things is right. Could it be that God has people He loves, people who know Him, who do not attend OUR church? Can’t one be our brother in Christ, even though he is not an identical twin?

We recall the time John said to Jesus, “We saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with US.” Jesus replied: “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49, 50).

Later they would better understand what Jesus meant when He said: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold…they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16; Eph. 2:13-19).

Having a desire to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), I like to share things I have learned along the way. I certainly don’t claim to have the final word or the ultimate revelation on everything. I am still learning, sorting things out.

In the final analysis, it is not so much HOW MUCH we know, but WHO we know (Phil. 3:10).