Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (Romans 12:9 NKJV)
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[e] and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9-10 NLT)
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV)
After reading the above scriptures, I was thinking about all that the church world has been through in the last five years. The covid area where churches were ordered to close. Some did; some didn’t. It created controversy. The past year we’ve been inundated with report after report of fallen ministers and ministries. Again, this brought schisms in churches. Since the Presidential election in 2024 there has been such hatred spewed between Christians, and family members that has destroyed relationships. Most recently there was the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Sadly, this has also created division within churches.
Brothers and sisters, this ought not be. Remember the old song, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love?” Once again, let’s look at an acronym to see how we can do better at being true brothers and sisters in unity.
Behave Like Christians – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. (1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT)
Obey - What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. ( ! Samuel 15:22 NLT)
Disciple - Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV)
This makes me think how we need a Kingdom mindset, not a church, denomination, or influencers. Jesus Christ and the scriptures should hold the utmost authority in our lives. We are a part of something much bigger than ourselves We can go anywhere in the world and find other disciples of Jesus. One word that is translated and pronounced the same around the world is “hallelujah.”
Yield - 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5 NKJV)
Ooohhh, we’re to walk in humility with each other? I once heard a definition for humility like this – “Humility is confidence properly placed.” If our confidence is in Jesus Christ and not in man made things, it will be easier to walk in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
This article is not in depth on this subject. In my next piece we will dive a little deeper discussing what biblical fellowship is. Let me close with a simple story about a conversation I had with a woman many years ago. I won’t name the denomination because I don’t intend to bash anyone. Here’s how it went:
LADY: “Hi, have you had a good weekend?”
ME: “Yes, we went to hear a preacher at xxxx church.”
LADY: “Ohhh, but that’s not xxxx denomination that we are. You attended a different denominion to hear him?”
ME; “Of course, as long as they’re teaching the Word of God, I’ll go anywhere to hear good preaching and receive from the Lord. You know, we’re not going to have assigned locations in heaven for each denomination. It’s going to be the Body of Christ.
LADY: Oh??? I would never do that. (She promptly turned around in her seat to not speak any more.)
One more thing, here are some lyrics to an old hymn that I think pulls it all together.
Refrain: We come to share our story. We come
to break the bread. We come to know our rising from the dead.
1. We come as your people. We come as your own. United with each other,
love finds a home.
2. We are called to heal the broken, to be hope for the poor. We are
called to feed the hungry at our door.
3. Bread of life and cup of promise, In this meal we all are
one. In our dying and our rising, may your kingdom come.
4. You will lead and we shall follow. You will be the breath of life;
living water, we are thirsting for your light.
5. We will live and sing your praises. "Alleluiah" is our song.
May we live in love and peace our whole life long.
** Song of the Body of Christ by David Haas
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