November 11, 2019

Weekly Reflection – One

We are one

I recently heard an interesting question. Are we the one people of God? Or are we people of the one God?  The answer to this question will say a lot about how a person relates to other believers and also how he or she views the Body of Christ.

A preacher friend of mine recently bemoaned the level of competitive, picky, argumentative debating that goes on between various Christ believing groups. Such battles (and they are indeed battles) are often fought over the more refined details of the Christian religion. And they are usually more destructive than uplifting. That is not to say we shouldn’t pay attention to the detail, but what gets lost in such an environment is our common joy in being the Body of Christ, one in the Spirit, in which all unity may one day be restored.

Love One Another

I recall the Apostle John’s admonition, “Little children love one another!” And I am reminded of the song that proclaims, “We are one in the Spirit. We are one in the Lord…and we pray that all unity will someday be restored, and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Here are the lyrics:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
 We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
 and we pray that our unity will one day be restored,
 and they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
 We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
 and we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride,
 and they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
 Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.*

Is it possible for us to shift our focus and overlook some of the finer points of our different theological foibles in favor of more simply caring for and serving God and our neighbor? Can we all praise God for the Christ who gave himself for us? I hope folk will move more and more in that direction.

Blessings and Peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu
chaplainscorner.org

Note: The concept for this question and Reflection was originated by Dr. Jeff Christian of Houston, Texas in a sermon preached on 10 November 2019. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author alone and based on his understanding of Scripture and how God works with the world.

*Songwriter: Peter Scholtes

Read the Chaplain’s reflections on The Unwanted Gift of Grief