Signing the Declaration of Independence was a dangerous act. To call the king of England a tyrant --especially in such a public and eloquent way-- was high treason, punishable by death. Although the signers of the Declaration of Independence had different reasons for doing so, were very different individuals, and had radically different political points of view, the executioner's rope could be equally effective for one and all. John Hancock was bold. He signed his name first and large. "There," he said; "King George should be able to read that without his spectacles." When Benjamin Franklin signed, he was expected to say something witty, pithy, and to the point; he was, after all, the greatest aphorist of his day. Franklin did not disappoint. "We must all hang together," he said, "or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
A popular American flag (prior to Betsy Ross's version with the stars and stripes) showed a snake divided in parts representing the thirteen colonies. The slogan was: UNITE OR DIE. Another popular early flag showed the snake united, with the warning: DON'T TREAD ON ME.
Another way of stressing the need for unity came from Martin Niemoeller (January 14, 1892 - March 6, 1984) who was a German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor. He said, “In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
It is my opinion that there is only one Church. This is the Church that Jesus spoke of in
Matthew 16:18 where He called it “My Church” and promised to edify or build it up. He also said that the gates of death would not overcome it. We some times call this Church “the Body of Christ” or “the Church of Jesus Christ” or “the Church of God” or just simply “the Church.” It is my opinion that this one Church is made up of all who have believed in Jesus Christ and who have submitted to Him as Lord whether they have been baptized or not, or how much water was used if they were baptized, or whatever words may have been spoken when they were baptized, or whatever name may be on the outside of the building, or whatever fellowship card (if any) they carry in their wallet or purse.
1 John 5:1 says, “If you believe that Jesus is the Christ --that He is God’s Son and your Savior-- you are a child of God.” The verse goes on and states that since we all have the same Heavenly Father we are therefore all brothers and sisters and just as we love our Heavenly Father we also love our spiritual siblings.
It bothers me to see apparent divisions among God’s family who make up the Church. On His last night before His crucifixion Jesus prayed for His followers --those who were with Him then and all those who would later believe in Him. You and I are included in that prayer because we have come to faith in Jesus through the words of the Apostles by whom the Bible was given. He prayed for several things and one of them was for unity. That prayer is recorded in
John 17:1-26 where Jesus prayed for our:
1 Salvation verses 2-5
2 Revelation verses 6-8
3 Preservation verses 9-12
4 Jubilation verse 13
5 Sanctification/Separation verses 14-19
6 Evangelization verse 20
7 Unification verses 21-23
8 Affection (love) verses 23, 26
9 Glorification verses 22-24
Notice that when Jesus prayed for unity He said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one... so that the world will believe you sent me.” How were Jesus and the Father one? The word one can mean united or unity and it can also mean a numerical one. Jesus was a man/human indwelt by God and there was a oneness or unity or cooperation between Him and His Father. Indwelt by the Father He did the works of God. He was God and man united. The Body of Christ is one in unity and it is also made up of one group of humans indwelt by God and doing the works of God.
Our divisions and differences and exclusiveness in the way we treat one another not only grieves our Heavenly Father but also presents a distorted caricature of the Body of Christ to those around us. How many people have been turned off and alienated from Jesus by the way we treat our brothers and sisters who may look different, worship different, and believe different than we. The late John Wimber (February 25, 1934 - November 17, 1997) founder of the Vineyard Churches said, “We have all been called to love the things Jesus loves, so we have no choice but to love the whole church --even the denominations whose beliefs we may not agree with or those parts we do not understand.” The Church is said to be the only army that buries its wounded and we have been laughingly compared to a “circular firing squad.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 tells us there is only one Church, the Body of Christ, and it is made up of all who have been baptized/placed into it by His Spirit. This is how it reads in the New Living Translation:
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
So, what are you and I supposed to do? I suggest the following actions:
-Recognize the unity of the one true Church
-Receive one another as members of that one body
-Respect your brother and sister and their right to be different than you
-Realize none of us is perfect
-Restore any who fall
-Rely on God’s Spirit to do that and
-Really work on it
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