We use to say that as Americans that we were "One Nation Under God." That used to be enough, but even that is up for debate these days. We have created such division among ourselves that we struggle to find unity in this one motto. But it doesn't stop there. I would love to say that this is just an issue within our nation. I would love to say that as followers of Jesus Christ that we have chosen to live above the fray. That we haven't allowed this type of disunity within our ranks. Sadly, however, I cannot say that and be honest with you. Some even struggle to believe that the Lord is Lord of all. All meaning everyone. Every church. Every person. We have chosen, instead, to be critiqued by our labeling systems. Our tribe, our denomination, our line of thinking has got it all right and everyone else is going to Hell. That may seem like such a jump in thinking to many of you, but I hear what people are saying and have said. It just has to stop. All of it.
How can we have any unity with diversity if we cannot be different? If we cannot have opposing views? If we cannot approach issues and questions with some sense of humility? The reality is that we cannot. Unity is not uniformity. And even if we could get everyone to say the same thing, dress the same way, and carry the same message; in the end it does not mean that we are unified. Unity has to come from somewhere other than our political ideology, our interpretations of the Bible (which are all up for discussion if we were honest with ourselves), or our denominational affiliations. Our unity, first and foremost begins when we can at least see the humanity that we all share. The fact that we are created beings made in the image of God. That each of us have been loved since the foundation of the world. That God, in Christ, demonstrated that we were a species worthy of saving. Our humanity should propel us to a greater sense of unity. Red, Yellow, Black, and White - we are precious in His sight. Can we at least start here?
Not only should our humanity unite us, but the fact that we claim Jesus as Lord should bring an even great sense of unity. The Church, the Body of Christ, is bigger than what meets in our buildings on Sabbath or Sunday mornings. It's much more diverse and beautiful than our denominations have tried to portray. Jesus, as Lord, should bring an awareness that this family - the family of faith - has much more in common than our belief systems. You may choose to fellowship with the Methodist, the Baptist, the Presbyterians, and the like but it does not negate the fact that you are my brother/sister. A realization that more and more and more of us need to get in this day and age. Can we unify under Jesus? Can we allow our shared humanity and our shared confession of Jesus to bring us together, or do we need everyone to agree on every jot and tittle?
This is a broad sweeping message. I'm sharing this in terms of who we are as a Nation AND as a Church. It's not WHAT but WHO that unites us.
We are more than our political affiliations
We are more than our denominational labels
We are more than our Bible interpretations
We are more than our doctrinal stances
We are more than our worship styles
We are more than our faith practices
WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! The more that we awaken to this reality, the greater our ability to see the other person across the aisle and/or across the table. Rather than dividing ourselves into different tribes, we have to recognize that we all belong to one tribe: A Humanity that has been reconciled in Christ.
Unity needs to start somewhere. Why not in us?
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