What Did Jesus Do?
What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or
“I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Chirst.”
Is Christ divided?
1 Corinthians 1:12-13
Is Christ divided? Oh my gosh, yes, almost beyond all recognition! Which is perhaps the chief reason why the lost don’t have much of a chance of seeing Jesus in what passes for the Church these days. Of course, the odds weren’t in the favor of the lost back in the day, when Paul learned of what was going on in the congregation he had established in Corinth. Today, after nearly two thousand years, we don’t seem to have learned the lesson Paul was earnestly trying to get through to the Corinthians.
At a time when it is certainly as important as ever, and arguably even more important since time does grow shorter every day, for the Body of Christ to seek and save the lost, much of the Church busies itself with emptying the cross of Christ of its power by insisting on dividing Jesus up into pieces so small that it’s not surprising the lost have so much trouble finding him. (1 Corinthians 1:17) We are all supposed to be in this, actually in Him, together as one.
I am not sure, but my suspicion is that too many of us are too full of ourselves, which means there is little room to be filled with Him by the Holy Spirit. And, being so full of ourselves, we have little hunger or longing for, much less a sense of how much we truly need, intimate and ongoing fellowship with other believers. Individually this either isolates us, or keeps our relationships with other believers shallow. Corporately it turns sanctuaries where there should be open and easy intercourse between congregations, into strongholds where we grimly hold out against “them,” except for the occasional and, again, typically shallow, “community service” for Thanksgiving and perhaps Good Friday.
There seems no solution to this problem other than for pewsitters and pulpiteers alike to confess our sin, ask forgiveness of the Lord and one another, and submit to the Holy Spirit, who, we can be assured, will always bring believes together. In case you didn’t catch my drift, I just implied that very different spirits are at work when congregations divide Christ. If you are a pewsitter I believe you (and I) need to get closer to the pewsitter next to you, and together you need to get your congregation closer to other congregations. If you are a pulpiteer you (and I) need to get closer to others who share the same vocation, and you need to prayerfully and through the Word lead your congregation to discover that it was the clear and strong desire of Jesus to make “one” anything but “the loneliest number.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number" (Part 6)
What Did Jesus Do?
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Romans 10:12
To a Jewish audience Paul’s declaration that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek was worse than nonsense, it was blasphemy! It would have been more offensive than today suggesting that there is no distinction between an Afghani and an American, Democrats and Republicans, the Red Sox and the Yankees. Maybe Paul’s great learning had driven him insane? (see Acts 26:24) Or maybe Paul, better than just about anyone then or now, truly understood the Gospel, and how Jesus had made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.” Everyone, Jew and Greek, Afghani and American, Democrat and Republican, even Red Sox and Yankee, who calls upon the name of the Lord, receives the same riches.
So, why is it, when Jesus looks upon all who are his, and see them as one and united under his lordship, that we insist on behaving as many and disparate? We seem to love nothing so much as to make all kinds of distinctions: Between the West and the Orthodox, between Catholic and Protestant, between Reformed and Lutheran, between Baptist and Pentecostal, even between Presbyterian and Presbyterian! And, let’s be plain here, by our distinctions we would deny the place and the privilege of the Lord to bestow his riches lavishly upon all who call on him.
Even worse, our preoccupation with making so many distinctions gets in the way of what should be our chief occupation—proclaiming the Gospel to the lost so that they may believe and call upon the Lord. Here in little old McDowell County, NC (Just over 40,000 pop.) there are 160+ congregations that are more into doing their own thing on their own, rather than doing His thing together, with the result that 80% of our neighbors aren’t part of any of the many, which likely means that most of that 80% are not part of the One who is, well, The One. As I’ve said before, if this is the “Bible Belt,” then we must be its rusty buckle that’s unbuckled.
All I am saying is, if God’s Word tells us that he makes no distinctions, isn’t it about time that we stopped being so hung up on them? It will be Resurrection Sunday (or Easter if you prefer) in just a couple of weeks. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the One Savior who died on the One Cross, was laid in the One Grave, and made many one through his One Resurrection, could be worshiped and proclaimed by his One People who all come together on that day as One in Him?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37:4
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Romans 10:12
To a Jewish audience Paul’s declaration that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek was worse than nonsense, it was blasphemy! It would have been more offensive than today suggesting that there is no distinction between an Afghani and an American, Democrats and Republicans, the Red Sox and the Yankees. Maybe Paul’s great learning had driven him insane? (see Acts 26:24) Or maybe Paul, better than just about anyone then or now, truly understood the Gospel, and how Jesus had made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.” Everyone, Jew and Greek, Afghani and American, Democrat and Republican, even Red Sox and Yankee, who calls upon the name of the Lord, receives the same riches.
So, why is it, when Jesus looks upon all who are his, and see them as one and united under his lordship, that we insist on behaving as many and disparate? We seem to love nothing so much as to make all kinds of distinctions: Between the West and the Orthodox, between Catholic and Protestant, between Reformed and Lutheran, between Baptist and Pentecostal, even between Presbyterian and Presbyterian! And, let’s be plain here, by our distinctions we would deny the place and the privilege of the Lord to bestow his riches lavishly upon all who call on him.
Even worse, our preoccupation with making so many distinctions gets in the way of what should be our chief occupation—proclaiming the Gospel to the lost so that they may believe and call upon the Lord. Here in little old McDowell County, NC (Just over 40,000 pop.) there are 160+ congregations that are more into doing their own thing on their own, rather than doing His thing together, with the result that 80% of our neighbors aren’t part of any of the many, which likely means that most of that 80% are not part of the One who is, well, The One. As I’ve said before, if this is the “Bible Belt,” then we must be its rusty buckle that’s unbuckled.
All I am saying is, if God’s Word tells us that he makes no distinctions, isn’t it about time that we stopped being so hung up on them? It will be Resurrection Sunday (or Easter if you prefer) in just a couple of weeks. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the One Savior who died on the One Cross, was laid in the One Grave, and made many one through his One Resurrection, could be worshiped and proclaimed by his One People who all come together on that day as One in Him?
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37:4
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number" (Part 5)
What Did Jesus Do?
Now the FULL number of those who believed were of ONE heart and soul,
and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,
but they had everything in common.
Acts 4:32
I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way. Please understand that I am happy to be in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. But, that being said, I have a strong suspicion that the Father and Son are not thrilled with the proliferation of denominations. I mean, it must almost look like a cancer infecting the Church. Forgive me, but I can almost hear Jesus saying, “You know, Abba, I just wish all these denominations would go to hell. Do you think we should send them all back to the devil?” And the Father sighs and responds, “I hear that! Try and be patient a while longer. Even as the denominations proliferate, there is a small but growing number who get it/us, and who are seeking to truly become one Church, even as you and I, and the Holy Spirit, are one. But, only when the time comes for your return, will the full number of those who believe be of one heart and soul.”
Again, just in case anyone from the EPC reads this, I am happy, and thankful, to be part of that franchise. Yet, at the same time, I long to belong to that full number of believers who are of one heart and soul, but, frankly, denominationalism keeps getting in the way. My friend Bob is in the PC(USA). Philip is PCA. Paul is C&MA. Jimmy is Southern Baptist. And then there’s Phil, who is independent. So, as much as my friends and I are, in Christ, of one heart and soul, our denominations (or independence) prevent us from having everything in common, as long as denominations are doing their thing more than His.
One of us may have this creed. Another may have that mode of baptism. A third may hold to a polity (church governance) different from the rest. And on and on. Think about it. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us that, among early believers, all were of one heart and soul. Everything they had, not just material possessions, but, most importantly, their faith, they had in common. And, I believe, it was the matchless power of all, as relatively small as all was at first, being ONE, that enabled the followers of Jesus to transform lives, families, communities, and empires. Today, with the many denominations seemingly being more about what we have in particular rather than in common, there seems to be less and less power in the body of Christ to change, to transform, much of anything. The result is that most of the world finds it quite easy to ignore us, which means they find it easy to ignore Him, and that is tragic.
I don’t know about you, but I want to experience being part of the full number of believers in this day who are of one heart and soul, having everything in common, most especially our faith in Jesus Christ, our love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, if the Lord sees fit to give me another opportunity to serve as an undershepherd to part of his flock, I believe I would incorporate from the beginning a regular (at least once a month) visit of the entire congregation with another to worship with them and affirm the oneness of our heart and soul in and through Jesus. Imagine what it would be like if an entire congregation showed up in the midst of yours on a given Sunday, and made your prayers their prayers, made their offering your offering, and together as ONE affirmed the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think we would all come away knowing we were of one heart and soul.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Now the FULL number of those who believed were of ONE heart and soul,
and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,
but they had everything in common.
Acts 4:32
I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way. Please understand that I am happy to be in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. But, that being said, I have a strong suspicion that the Father and Son are not thrilled with the proliferation of denominations. I mean, it must almost look like a cancer infecting the Church. Forgive me, but I can almost hear Jesus saying, “You know, Abba, I just wish all these denominations would go to hell. Do you think we should send them all back to the devil?” And the Father sighs and responds, “I hear that! Try and be patient a while longer. Even as the denominations proliferate, there is a small but growing number who get it/us, and who are seeking to truly become one Church, even as you and I, and the Holy Spirit, are one. But, only when the time comes for your return, will the full number of those who believe be of one heart and soul.”
Again, just in case anyone from the EPC reads this, I am happy, and thankful, to be part of that franchise. Yet, at the same time, I long to belong to that full number of believers who are of one heart and soul, but, frankly, denominationalism keeps getting in the way. My friend Bob is in the PC(USA). Philip is PCA. Paul is C&MA. Jimmy is Southern Baptist. And then there’s Phil, who is independent. So, as much as my friends and I are, in Christ, of one heart and soul, our denominations (or independence) prevent us from having everything in common, as long as denominations are doing their thing more than His.
One of us may have this creed. Another may have that mode of baptism. A third may hold to a polity (church governance) different from the rest. And on and on. Think about it. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us that, among early believers, all were of one heart and soul. Everything they had, not just material possessions, but, most importantly, their faith, they had in common. And, I believe, it was the matchless power of all, as relatively small as all was at first, being ONE, that enabled the followers of Jesus to transform lives, families, communities, and empires. Today, with the many denominations seemingly being more about what we have in particular rather than in common, there seems to be less and less power in the body of Christ to change, to transform, much of anything. The result is that most of the world finds it quite easy to ignore us, which means they find it easy to ignore Him, and that is tragic.
I don’t know about you, but I want to experience being part of the full number of believers in this day who are of one heart and soul, having everything in common, most especially our faith in Jesus Christ, our love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, if the Lord sees fit to give me another opportunity to serve as an undershepherd to part of his flock, I believe I would incorporate from the beginning a regular (at least once a month) visit of the entire congregation with another to worship with them and affirm the oneness of our heart and soul in and through Jesus. Imagine what it would be like if an entire congregation showed up in the midst of yours on a given Sunday, and made your prayers their prayers, made their offering your offering, and together as ONE affirmed the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think we would all come away knowing we were of one heart and soul.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Monday, March 12, 2012
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number" (Part 4)
What Did Jesus Do?
“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them (Gentile converts to faith in Jesus),
by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us (Jewish converts),
and he made NO DISTINCTION between us and them…”
Acts 15:8-9
I am one of, oh, I don’t know, maybe half a dozen fans of The Friends of Distinction, who were kind of The 5th Dimension wannabes (If you don’t know who The 5th Dimension were you’re much younger than I, and definitely haven’t a clue about The Friends of Distinction). Don’t worry if this is confusing, this WDJD isn’t about music of the 60s and 70s, or about friends among whom we may want to make distinctions. You see, Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number” because he made no distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ (Which is kind of like saying The 5th Dimension vs. The Friends of Distinction wouldn’t matter at all to Jesus, because he would love them and their sound equally.).
The problem with the followers of Jesus, in the First Century and the Twenty-first, is that we seem to have a real issue with not making distinctions among those who should all be friends whom we accept and love equally. Whether it’s an unbearable yoke on the neck (Acts 15:10) of other disciples, or any other kind of “Jesus and ______” doctrine we might require to receive anyone as a fellow believer, making distinctions among ones who should be our friends in Christ is a refutation of the faith which declares that all who are saved are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus alone (Acts 15:11).
Yet, we continue to make distinctions based on the age of folks we are willing to baptize, which Bible translation we use, what kind of music is incorporated into worship, whether the pastor wears a robe or jeans, and all kinds of other stuff that Jesus never employed to separate his followers. It’s like this, Jesus wanted his followers, all his followers, to be ONE, friends with no distinctions!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them (Gentile converts to faith in Jesus),
by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us (Jewish converts),
and he made NO DISTINCTION between us and them…”
Acts 15:8-9
I am one of, oh, I don’t know, maybe half a dozen fans of The Friends of Distinction, who were kind of The 5th Dimension wannabes (If you don’t know who The 5th Dimension were you’re much younger than I, and definitely haven’t a clue about The Friends of Distinction). Don’t worry if this is confusing, this WDJD isn’t about music of the 60s and 70s, or about friends among whom we may want to make distinctions. You see, Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number” because he made no distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ (Which is kind of like saying The 5th Dimension vs. The Friends of Distinction wouldn’t matter at all to Jesus, because he would love them and their sound equally.).
The problem with the followers of Jesus, in the First Century and the Twenty-first, is that we seem to have a real issue with not making distinctions among those who should all be friends whom we accept and love equally. Whether it’s an unbearable yoke on the neck (Acts 15:10) of other disciples, or any other kind of “Jesus and ______” doctrine we might require to receive anyone as a fellow believer, making distinctions among ones who should be our friends in Christ is a refutation of the faith which declares that all who are saved are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus alone (Acts 15:11).
Yet, we continue to make distinctions based on the age of folks we are willing to baptize, which Bible translation we use, what kind of music is incorporated into worship, whether the pastor wears a robe or jeans, and all kinds of other stuff that Jesus never employed to separate his followers. It’s like this, Jesus wanted his followers, all his followers, to be ONE, friends with no distinctions!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number" (Part 3)
What Did Jesus Do?
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like politics. This dislike for politics extends to individuals who practice nothing but politics. That’s right, I really don’t like politicians. This is why I am contemplating voting “No” in November if all I get to choose from is a group of politicians. As I said, I don’t know about you, but I also believe Jesus didn’t care for politics and politicians all that much. In fact, Jesus sought to pretty much eradicate politics. Think about it, politics is always so adversarial, so contentious, so win-lose. But Jesus wanted his followers to understand that we’re all in this together; Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.” And he did it be tackling politics head on.
First, there’s ethnic politics. Jew vs. Greek. Judaizers vs. Hellenists. Blacks vs. Whites. Whites vs. Reds. In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Jew,” what’s a Jew? “Gentile,” what’s a Gentile? There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Next there are the politics of class and economics. Slave vs. Free. Owners vs. Workers. Wealthy vs. Poor. 1%ers vs. the 99%. In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Slave,” what’s a slave? “Free,” what’s free? There is neither slave nor free…for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Finally, there is gender politics. Male vs. Female. Husband vs. Wife. Men speaking in church vs. Women keeping their mouths shut. Adam vs. Amanda (see Adam’s Rib with Hepburn and Tracy). In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Male,” what is it to be male? “Female,” what is it to be female? There is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Pick any kind of distinction or difference you may, Jesus will have none of it for his people. Bikers vs. Cagers. Duke vs. UNC. Dems vs. Reps. Conservatives vs. Liberals. We have to put all this stuff out of our minds and hearts, that is, if we have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). All politics is far more concerned with keeping others out than bringing them in. But, for those who practice faith rather than politics, for those who follow Jesus, the sole concern is with gathering others in.
The thing is, others cease to be “other” when all are ONE in Christ Jesus. In the end, I don’t care what kind of politics you pursue, you are going to end up lonely, no matter how many supporters and sympathizers and like-minded friends you have, because politics is fickle. But in Christ Jesus, where all are ONE, there is faithful fellowship that endures because Jesus has for all time and eternity made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like politics. This dislike for politics extends to individuals who practice nothing but politics. That’s right, I really don’t like politicians. This is why I am contemplating voting “No” in November if all I get to choose from is a group of politicians. As I said, I don’t know about you, but I also believe Jesus didn’t care for politics and politicians all that much. In fact, Jesus sought to pretty much eradicate politics. Think about it, politics is always so adversarial, so contentious, so win-lose. But Jesus wanted his followers to understand that we’re all in this together; Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.” And he did it be tackling politics head on.
First, there’s ethnic politics. Jew vs. Greek. Judaizers vs. Hellenists. Blacks vs. Whites. Whites vs. Reds. In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Jew,” what’s a Jew? “Gentile,” what’s a Gentile? There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Next there are the politics of class and economics. Slave vs. Free. Owners vs. Workers. Wealthy vs. Poor. 1%ers vs. the 99%. In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Slave,” what’s a slave? “Free,” what’s free? There is neither slave nor free…for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Finally, there is gender politics. Male vs. Female. Husband vs. Wife. Men speaking in church vs. Women keeping their mouths shut. Adam vs. Amanda (see Adam’s Rib with Hepburn and Tracy). In Christ there is simply no place for any of this. “Male,” what is it to be male? “Female,” what is it to be female? There is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.
Pick any kind of distinction or difference you may, Jesus will have none of it for his people. Bikers vs. Cagers. Duke vs. UNC. Dems vs. Reps. Conservatives vs. Liberals. We have to put all this stuff out of our minds and hearts, that is, if we have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). All politics is far more concerned with keeping others out than bringing them in. But, for those who practice faith rather than politics, for those who follow Jesus, the sole concern is with gathering others in.
The thing is, others cease to be “other” when all are ONE in Christ Jesus. In the end, I don’t care what kind of politics you pursue, you are going to end up lonely, no matter how many supporters and sympathizers and like-minded friends you have, because politics is fickle. But in Christ Jesus, where all are ONE, there is faithful fellowship that endures because Jesus has for all time and eternity made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.”
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Friday, March 9, 2012
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number" (Part 2)
What Did Jesus Do?
There is ONE body and ONE Spirit—ONE Lord, One faith,
ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all…
Ephesians 4:4-6
Something tells me that if Jesus were here to witness the divisions in his Body over sprinkling vs. pouring vs. dunking, and grape juice vs. wine, and hymnody vs. contemporary “praise music,” and KJV vs. every other translation it would at the very least give him a migraine, if not make him want to throw up, as Woody Allen once quipped in a seriously humorous way. While the mysterious “Masked Man” with the silver bullets may have been a hero in the Old West, Jesus did not exalt any Lone Ranger mentality. Contrary to all logic, Jesus taught that the real strength in numbers is when many add up to 1. That’s right, Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.”
It troubles me as much as anything these days that the Church has forgotten the most essential math lesson in God’s kingdom. It may be a maxim on the battlefield that to divide is to conquer, but, for Christian soldiers, to be divided is to be defeated. How is it that we don’t get this? Sometimes I am afraid that not getting the importance of being 1 in Christ is a strong indication that we really don’t get Him. And, if we don’t get Him, how, in the name of heaven, can we share Him? You’ve seen those bumper stickers that say, “If you don’t KNOW Peace you’ll have NO Peace”? Well, no one can know the peace of Christ if all we have to offer is a piece of Him! The one thing this does answer for me is why so many seemingly have no use for the faith we put on display, because it’s a faith that can’t deliver Jesus because we’ve made it all but impossible for Christ to be seen after we’ve divided him up into so many little pieces.
Here’s what I think just might be Job #1 for the Church—to be ONE! How else will the world ever come to know the ONE hope to which we have all been called if we don’t clearly and consistently put on display the ONE God and Father of all by showing our unity in the ONE Son of God and Savior of all, by the power of the ONE Holy Spirit who is in all upon whom God has poured out his grace and truth? I’ve never been much of a Beatles fan, but I think if Jesus were here today he might make use of a band that would exhort his people to “Come Together” and “Love, Love, Love.”
Think about this the next time you attend a worship service where Communion is being celebrated: Jesus is the Maitre d’ who, whenever two or more are gathered in his name, announces, “Table for One!” I don’t know about you, but I believe it’s time our congregations started relating to each other as ONE in Jesus. And I think it doesn’t matter if it begins in pew or pulpit, but begin it must if the churches in your community and in mine, and in every community, are going to be the Church.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
There is ONE body and ONE Spirit—ONE Lord, One faith,
ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all…
Ephesians 4:4-6
Something tells me that if Jesus were here to witness the divisions in his Body over sprinkling vs. pouring vs. dunking, and grape juice vs. wine, and hymnody vs. contemporary “praise music,” and KJV vs. every other translation it would at the very least give him a migraine, if not make him want to throw up, as Woody Allen once quipped in a seriously humorous way. While the mysterious “Masked Man” with the silver bullets may have been a hero in the Old West, Jesus did not exalt any Lone Ranger mentality. Contrary to all logic, Jesus taught that the real strength in numbers is when many add up to 1. That’s right, Jesus made “one” anything but “the loneliest number.”
It troubles me as much as anything these days that the Church has forgotten the most essential math lesson in God’s kingdom. It may be a maxim on the battlefield that to divide is to conquer, but, for Christian soldiers, to be divided is to be defeated. How is it that we don’t get this? Sometimes I am afraid that not getting the importance of being 1 in Christ is a strong indication that we really don’t get Him. And, if we don’t get Him, how, in the name of heaven, can we share Him? You’ve seen those bumper stickers that say, “If you don’t KNOW Peace you’ll have NO Peace”? Well, no one can know the peace of Christ if all we have to offer is a piece of Him! The one thing this does answer for me is why so many seemingly have no use for the faith we put on display, because it’s a faith that can’t deliver Jesus because we’ve made it all but impossible for Christ to be seen after we’ve divided him up into so many little pieces.
Here’s what I think just might be Job #1 for the Church—to be ONE! How else will the world ever come to know the ONE hope to which we have all been called if we don’t clearly and consistently put on display the ONE God and Father of all by showing our unity in the ONE Son of God and Savior of all, by the power of the ONE Holy Spirit who is in all upon whom God has poured out his grace and truth? I’ve never been much of a Beatles fan, but I think if Jesus were here today he might make use of a band that would exhort his people to “Come Together” and “Love, Love, Love.”
Think about this the next time you attend a worship service where Communion is being celebrated: Jesus is the Maitre d’ who, whenever two or more are gathered in his name, announces, “Table for One!” I don’t know about you, but I believe it’s time our congregations started relating to each other as ONE in Jesus. And I think it doesn’t matter if it begins in pew or pulpit, but begin it must if the churches in your community and in mine, and in every community, are going to be the Church.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Jesus Made "One" Anything But "The Loneliest Number"
What Did Jesus Do?
“Holy Father, keep them in your name…
that they may be ONE, even as we are one.”
John 17:11
One of the bitterest disappointments I experienced moving from Milton, PA to Marion, NC nine years ago (And there have been some very bitter disappointments!) was seeing how broken and divided the Body of Christ is in McDowell County. With 160+ congregations in little ol’ McDowell, I thought I was relocating to the heart of the so-called “Bible Belt.” It turns out the “belt” is unbuckled! Where the congregations in Milton (Which is demographically very similar to Marion) came together in Jesus’ name regularly to minister to the wider community, in McDowell County the many congregations are much more interested in doing their own thing, their own way, on their own for Jesus. In other words, being part of the Body of Christ in McDowell County is disturbingly lonely, if you catch my drift. The thing is, Jesus made “one" anything but “the loneliest number.”
You see, Jesus, the Son, didn’t come to do his thing, he came to do the Father’s because, though they are two persons, the Father and the Son are one in their attributes, character, power, purpose, and substance. And it was the Son’s deepest desire, even as it was the Father’s, that all those whom he received from the Father should also be one. Many believers, yes, but one in and with the Lord. Many congregations, yes, but one Church under Christ’s lordship, not doing their thing, but his.
I still don’t understand the stubborn resistance to coming together in the name of the Son, to do his thing to the glory of the Father. I don’t imagine I ever will understand it. And I believe it will always be painful to witness and experience. Painful, and lonely.
I want you to know that I don’t care if “Presbyterian” is part of what your congregation calls itself or not. Doesn’t matter to me if “Methodist” is part of the name. Or Baptist, Lutheran, or Pentecostal. If “Catholic” is part of your identity it’s fine with me. If we agree that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, that he is the Son of God the Father, and that he sends the Holy Spirit to every believer, and in the Spirit makes us all one in his one true Church, then we should seek opportunities to worship and to minister together as one in Jesus’ name, which means in his authority and power. When come together as one in Jesus it’s anything but lonely!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
“Holy Father, keep them in your name…
that they may be ONE, even as we are one.”
John 17:11
One of the bitterest disappointments I experienced moving from Milton, PA to Marion, NC nine years ago (And there have been some very bitter disappointments!) was seeing how broken and divided the Body of Christ is in McDowell County. With 160+ congregations in little ol’ McDowell, I thought I was relocating to the heart of the so-called “Bible Belt.” It turns out the “belt” is unbuckled! Where the congregations in Milton (Which is demographically very similar to Marion) came together in Jesus’ name regularly to minister to the wider community, in McDowell County the many congregations are much more interested in doing their own thing, their own way, on their own for Jesus. In other words, being part of the Body of Christ in McDowell County is disturbingly lonely, if you catch my drift. The thing is, Jesus made “one" anything but “the loneliest number.”
You see, Jesus, the Son, didn’t come to do his thing, he came to do the Father’s because, though they are two persons, the Father and the Son are one in their attributes, character, power, purpose, and substance. And it was the Son’s deepest desire, even as it was the Father’s, that all those whom he received from the Father should also be one. Many believers, yes, but one in and with the Lord. Many congregations, yes, but one Church under Christ’s lordship, not doing their thing, but his.
I still don’t understand the stubborn resistance to coming together in the name of the Son, to do his thing to the glory of the Father. I don’t imagine I ever will understand it. And I believe it will always be painful to witness and experience. Painful, and lonely.
I want you to know that I don’t care if “Presbyterian” is part of what your congregation calls itself or not. Doesn’t matter to me if “Methodist” is part of the name. Or Baptist, Lutheran, or Pentecostal. If “Catholic” is part of your identity it’s fine with me. If we agree that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, that he is the Son of God the Father, and that he sends the Holy Spirit to every believer, and in the Spirit makes us all one in his one true Church, then we should seek opportunities to worship and to minister together as one in Jesus’ name, which means in his authority and power. When come together as one in Jesus it’s anything but lonely!
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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