Sunday, February 1, 2009

United we stand... Departed we fall.

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:1-6.

If ever there was one thing I learned from being in Campus Crusade for Christ and Bellevue Community College it was that there were no more powerful times than when God's people (no matter denomination) came together to worship him. Lutherans, baptists, Pentecostals, it didn't matter, everyone was there to worship God and it was powerful. We loved each other and people who were not Christians saw our love for each other despite our differences. I remember times when we would all go and hang out at Jesse's house (a young man with 10 brothers and sisters who lived in a small 3 bedroom, one level house and a tiny little living room) and we would come together and worship God! I really believe that is the attitude the Lord desires from us. it's keeping unity. And because we were a unified body of believers (about 50 or so) we were able to see people come to the Lord and join our family.

Somehow the church has fallen away from his and separated themselves into different little bodies. It really bothers/hurts me to see lovers of the Lord pollute and dishonor the name other lovers because of their denomination: as if one denomination should be considered higher than another.

Maybe all of this falls under the issue of control or pride? Paul said "be completely humble...." if recognizing any christian denomination as equal to one's own means stepping on their pride then I guess that would make Paul's statement apply.

Jesus even prayed for this. Before he died he prayed that we'd be unified. "...I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17) - Jesus also seemed to believe that this unity would be a light to the world of the gospel.

Well, What do you think? Maybe I'm a bit too harsh?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

you are not to harsh at all. never make any appologies for sharing the uncompromised Truth of God.

This was a good word!

Godbless,
Daniel