God’s community in unity (week 4)
For: The Institute of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.
We are God’s community. We are the new Israel. We, with all our differences, all our different perspectives, we are one. We are one in His spirit. We are rightly related to the body of Christ. John 17:23: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
His body is meant to walk in unity. The Body of Christ must come together as one. 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
It is our goal to be perfectly joined together. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone upon which every believer bases his trust in eternal things. He is the cornerstone on which all churches are build. He is the one we worship, he’s the purpose of our service, the meaning of our very existence.
Jesus must be our focal point, more than our variety of opinions and more than our celebrated traditions. We need to lift Him up above all things and speak the language that Jesus spoke, the language of divine love. Speak in love of those who attend other churches, cause they are too part of the body of Christ. Cease striving, or competing against Christians of other congregations. Love, forgive, trust and uplift one another in the enormous reservoir of Gods love. Genuine love for all people in whatever church makes us imagebearers of Christ. Jesus said that the world would identify His followers by love for each other. He indicated that the Gospel message would influence the whole world, from the evidence of our love for our brothers and sisters. Perhaps this is what the world is waiting for: to see a body of Christians who sincerely care about each other, which are not in conflict or competition with each other. Then they will believe that we really do represent Jesus, and might be inclined to trust the Gospel message we preach. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Both in the singular congregation and in the overall body of Christ, God’s blessing resides upon love and unity. The psalmist declared that unity is associated with His anointing, symbolic application of oil, representing His Holy Spirit. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments” (Psa.133:1-2). If we hope to embrace that anointed blessing, let each of us make our contribution to the unity of the body of Christ.
