One Church

Good Morning,

Romans 15:5-6 (New International Version)
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6 (Amplified Bible)
Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

I hear today, after reading these two translations of these verses of Scripture, a call and a cry for unity in the ONE Church, the Church founded by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I hear in my mind and heart that we need to unite together, ALL of us no matter our earthly church or denominational affiliation, in order to be obedient to what Paul said to the Romans, "So that together, with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify God."

You see, I think it may be hard for even God to hear the praises sent up to Him through the cacophony of noise that we are making because of our differences that interfere with true worship, praise, and glorification of God. Now, I know that God can hear us, of course, even through the noise, that's just my way of saying I think He also hears all of the nonsense and bickering that we Christians are much too involved in on a regular basis. I also believe that the nonsense, noise, and bickering are a grief for Him to hear from us.

You and I probably worship in a different manner and at a different congregation. Some of us on Sunday mornings, some of us on Saturday evening, some of us on Wednesday, some of us on multiple days. Then, we argue and haggle about what is the right day or right time to worship. We haggle over the order of our worship services, claiming the way that "I" do it is more correct, or even the ONLY way worship ought to be done. We disagree on this word or that word, and what it means, in Scripture to the point that we simply cannot agree on almost anything...and, I hope that we all know, God will tell us what HE wants us to hear in any particular section of Scripture. Oh, we have so much dispute amongst us that it makes it almost impossible for us to be obedient to the many sections of Scripture that scream out for us to be united in our praise and glory to God.

I know that, perhaps, I "harp" on this particular subject and that it has been a regular topic of discussion for many years. I believe that what I hear about unity among Christians comes from God. I believe that God has given me the passion I have about being united as ONE Church so that I will continue to notice Scripture as it crosses my desk which deals with unity.

I'll leave this message with some other words we ought to be using that concern this subject...in no particular order: oneness, wholeness, unification, accord, harmony, cooperation, unanimity, compatibility, like-mindedness, rapport, peace, concord.

I'll leave it to you to use whatever, or however many, of these words and concepts God puts on your heart so that we can all leave behind our DISunity, division, and separateness as it concerns One Church.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David