United as One

So I’ve been meaning to write a blog entry for a while. Except I really didn’t know what to write about. Sure, I’ve been learning about a lot in class it’s just not the kind of stuff you can really blog about. Until tonight. It was unplanned, unstructured, and totally awesome. With the night off, I found myself without anything to do. So I wandered over to the skateboard ramps in search of Ruth, instead I found another group of people visiting, doing homework, and eating. I joined them in casual conversation. As the group dwindled I wondered to myself what else I would occupy my time with. Everyone had left except for Michael and Tanner. They stood up to leave and asked if I wanted to join there bible study. Not really knowing what they planned to study, I asked if we could just stay there … somewhat expecting they would leave anyways. Instead they stayed and we began our bible study. No instruction or information was shared; we just sat and listened to the chapter of John 17 on an audio bible. John 17 talks 3 times about unity. John 17:21 says, “I pray that they will all be as one, just as you and I are one.”

And that’s how our discussion began. We discussed unity and disunity. Why it is that there is so much disunity within the church. As we talked I began to dream of a transformation within the church. Like one who goes out to reach nations I want to be one who goes out and starts the change of the church. Non-believers look at Christians, and with good reason wonder, “why should I follow your God.” We as a group are a terrible example of Christ’s love. And I admit, it starts with me. It probably starts with you too. I have come to the conclusion that the root of disunity is pride. Our unity is being disassembled by pride. It starts in a one on one relationship, where two people use scripture to argue one’s point. It’s always about being right or wrong. And often, we are placing God in a box to fit our beliefs, instead of accepting that we, in fact, might not be right and take the opportunity to learn more about God. From there it grows, two people grows into three and four until churches are divided and separate themselves into different ‘denominations.’ Have you thought about that? We all identify ourselves as a part of a denomination ….. What if these people had gone about it differently when they came to points of the bible that they could not agree on. I sincerely believe instead of trying to find the answers on our own, if the two parties were to come together to earnestly seek God, and be willing to lay down there pride, that God would reveal Himself to them.

We talked about different denominations view on communion, baptism, and Santa Claus. Yes Santa Claus. Between the three of us we were able to come together agreeably on every topic. What we found was how misconstrued God’s word often is. That we need to look at the point of the scripture, and not the logistics. For example, when talking about Communion: Michael was saying how some believe that as you eat and drink that you are literally eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood. Others believe it’s symbolic, and so forth. What we concluded was that ultimately the story of the last supper when Jesus says “do this in remembrance of me” he is saying to come together in fellowship. You see, it is not about whether or not it’s actually blood and body, or wine and crackers. When Jesus spoke those words he was encouraging us as believers to come together, and to remember him. We all come from a society where our church is incredibly legalistic. It’s about time we stop arguing over who is right and start loving as Christ loves.

Frankly, I think a lot of us argue just to argue. Because we like to be right. We grow up being taught a certain viewpoint, and will defend it to the death. So I challenge you to ask yourself, “Why do I think what I think?” Are the things you believe simply something you have been told all your life or do you actually believe them.

We concluded with a prayer, and it is a prayer I pray over all of us:

God, would you open our eyes and our ears to see the truth in your word. Would you reveal to us the message the author intended in their writing. Challenge us to read beyond the words on the page and study what it is you want to say to us. Help us to recognize the truth in your word and to keep it as you have intended, to not take it out of context. Your word is a gift to us, and yet we use it as a weapon against each other instead of against the enemy. Bring us together as a body in unity, as you are within the perfect trinity. We love you, and we want to see glory brought to your name through the body.