A Smart Healthy Body

09/2018 Filed in: Body of Christ / The Church

The topic of unity within the Body of Christ has been on my mind and heart for the past year. Regarding the Tower of Babel, God noted that nothing would be impossible if the people were unified. Needless to say, in its present state, the Body of Christ need not worry about accomplishing very many impossible things.

Though it might not be common to find “open hostility” between Christian individuals, local church congregations, or denominations; it might be equally as “uncommon” to find churches and denominations working closely together. Each denomination tends to feel superior to others - as a relative just told me that in her former mega-church, the pastor made them feel guilty about visiting other churches. Racially, though churches are slowly becoming more diverse, “Eleven o’clock Sunday morning continues to be the most segregated hour in America.” There are over 215 denominations in North America that do little to learn from one another or link their efforts and resources to the goals of Christ.

In John 17:22-23 Jesus, speaking to His Father, said, “The glory which You have given Me, I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” Jesus wants to include us in the glorious “oneness” He shares with His Father. And this is NOT just an individualized or denominationalized oneness with God; it is a oneness of ALL followers of Jesus! And it is this unity in Christ that will demonstrate to the world that Jesus was sent from God and that we are loved by the Father as He loved His Son.

I believe building unity is the biggest and most exciting challenge that faces the Church, and I feel called to do something about it! Stay tuned…