May 3

Moments with God, May 3

John 17:20-23 (NIV) [Jesus prayed,] 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Many years ago, we attended a dinner that was open to all the churches in our area. The main goal was to foster fellowship by creating an atmosphere where believers from different bodies could mix and get to know each other. I am not a social person in that I do not mix well with people I do not know, but I was determined not to isolate myself this time. Plus, I had my wife with me, and she has the Lord’s attitude in that she never meets a stranger. When we arrived, we visited with several others. However, when it was time for the meal, I noticed that people began to sit with those whom they already knew.

Over a period of time, I have read articles written by theologians, pastors, authors, and Biblical authorities that seek to shed light on the 21st century church. In these articles I discovered that there are conservative and liberal Christians. There are progressive and conventional Christians. There are born-again Christians and plain Christians. When we look at Christ’s prayer that includes us, I find these new designations confusing and upsetting. Jesus prays that all of us who believe in Him would be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. This oneness is how the world will know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Yet, these terms separate us. Looking at believers now, I picture the marriage feast of Christ resembling that event we attended years ago. We arrive to celebrate Christ’s marriage to His bride, and we find a table for conservative Christians, one for progressive Christians, and so forth. This cannot be. I believe we are either a Christian or we are not. Either Christ is the Son of God or He is not. Either the Word is God’s Word or it is not. The followers of Jesus cannot be identified by labels. They are identified by the lives they live and the fruit they produce.