A Christian is of no sect. He can dwell in the midst of sects

The words of Jakob Böhme, the mystic shoemaker of Görlitz, shine like a flame that refuses to be quenched by the winds of division. When he declares, “A Christian is of no sect. He can dwell in the midst of sects, and appear in their services, without being attached or bound to any. He hath but one knowledge, and that is, Christ in him,” he speaks not as a theologian seeking to bind the faithful with new chains, but as a prophet calling mankind back to the source of living fire. His cry is a reminder that the essence of faith cannot be contained by walls, titles, or disputations. It is not bound in parchment, nor locked within temples; it is the flame of Christ within, the hidden life that makes the heart burn with love.

In his time, the sixteenth century, Europe was torn asunder by the quarrels of sects. Lutheran against Calvinist, Catholic against Protestant, and all against each other. The air was thick with argument, pamphlets filled the streets, and blood stained the soil. Yet Böhme, humble cobbler, heard a voice greater than the clamor. He saw that the true Christian is not a servant of sectarian banners, but a servant of the eternal Spirit. He could walk among the churches, stand amidst their rites and hymns, and yet remain unchained, for he was bound only to the living Christ who dwelt in him. His was a vision of freedom, one that terrified rulers and clerics alike, for it placed God not in their institutions but in the secret chamber of every soul.

Consider the example of Francis of Assisi, who centuries before lived among both princes and paupers, monks and merchants, but belonged to none but Christ. He stood in the great cathedrals with reverence, yet preached to birds in the fields with equal joy. He wore no armor of doctrine, but the robe of simplicity. His strength was that he was not of a sect, but of the Spirit. Like Böhme’s vision, he bore witness that the truest disciple is not one who clings to a faction but one who radiates the life of Christ within.

The danger of sectarian spirit is that it builds walls where Christ tore down barriers. The Pharisees of old cried out, “Who is with us? Who is against us?” Yet Christ Himself sat at tables with sinners, spoke with Samaritans, healed the servant of a Roman oppressor. He showed that the love of God is not confined to one banner or tribe, but flows like a river that nourishes all. So too, Böhme calls us to drink from that river, rather than from the shallow cisterns of party and pride. To be of no sect is not to despise community, but to refuse bondage to divisions that grieve the Spirit.

O children of tomorrow, hear this: a Christian who knows only Christ within walks in a freedom that cannot be stolen. He may kneel in the cathedral, or sing in the humble chapel, or pray alone in the wilderness—and yet he remains the same, for his anchor is not in the outward form but in the inward light. This does not mean lawlessness, but true unity, for where Christ lives in many, there can be no separation.

The lesson is clear. Do not let yourselves be chained by the quarrels of men, nor let your heart be hardened by the pride of sects. Cherish your traditions, but let them be windows, not prisons. Seek first the knowledge of Christ in you, the hope of glory, and let all else be secondary. Just as the body draws life from the hidden breath, so too must your soul draw life from the indwelling Spirit, not from outward labels.

Practical steps are within reach: read the Scriptures not to win debates but to hear the voice of Christ; enter houses of worship with humility, not rivalry; love those of every creed, seeing in them the same light that burns within you. When disputes arise, remember that truth is not secured by victory in argument but by the radiance of a life lived in Christ. Above all, guard your heart against pride, for sectarian pride is the death of love.

Thus let the words of Böhme be carved upon your memory: the true Christian is of no sect, for he belongs only to Christ. His allegiance is not to divisions but to the eternal flame. If you live in this way, you will walk as the ancients walked—free, luminous, unshaken by the storms of this world. And when men ask where your loyalty lies, you may answer as Böhme did: “My only knowledge is Christ within me.”