In all things Unity

Notes from the Pastor…

Recent studies estimate that one-third of the world’s population consider themselves “Christian.”  Of that 2.26 billion, my tribe consists of 679,563 people; that is the total number of members in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North America as of 2008.  For those who enjoy statistics, my tribe makes up 0.03% of Christianity  - a fraction of theological understanding and worship practice.  Accordingly, it would be disproportionately egocentric of me to consider my tribe as “correct” and everyone else as “wrong;” even so, that is often my disposition toward Catholics (52.25% of Christianity) and Southern Baptists (7.16% of Christianity).

However, there is a greater reason than theological relativism to consider Christian people of other denominations as sisters and brothers - that is Scripture.  In Jesus’ priestly prayer of John 17, we hear his heart for unity among his followers: “May they be one as we (the Father and Son) are one.”  In Matthew 25 we hear the wisdom that a house divided against itself cannot stand.  And Paul spoke on unity within diversity in 1 Corinthians 12 when he says, “Just as a body has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body...”  There may be more than  38,000 denominations within Christianity, but there is one Christ, and thus one body.  It is tribalism that wars against unity when it says, “I am right; you are other.”  It is tribalism that forms false divisions based on ethnicity, nationality, and/or ideology.

Breaking through those tribal boundaries is a difficult task.  There are language, cultural, and historical reasons why so many denominations exist.  Moreover, in the recent past, churches taught to fear the other because “their false teachings may pollute our correct understating.”  Even though the difficulty is well grounded, finding unity within diversity is a principle endeavor of the emerging Church.  The Church of the future must hold her personal narratives as uniquely formative; yet universally non-divisive.  Practically, this means holding tight to our progressive and sacramental Christian Church history; while being open to a variety of theological understandings and worship practices.

October 2 is World Communion Sunday.  It is an opportunity for our congregation to affirm our brothers and sisters around the world who worship the same Christ.  This Sunday, while Christians around the globe will gather around countless different Tables, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper in diverse fashions, we specifically recognize there is truly only one Table, because only one Lord.May we work toward unity, celebrate diversity, and hold tight to our one Lord, Jesus the Christ!

Grace,
Pastor Ryan