We Are Family

“That which keeps us together, is greater than that which keeps us apart.” No, this isn’t a Biblical quotation, but I did hear it on Christian radio.  The speaker was our president, Barrack Obama. He was addressing a gathering of Democrats and Republicans, as they sought to find  common ground in regards to solving the USA’s fiscal dilemma. What I took from this statement is that the mutual love we have for our nation, our common ground, is far more important than the divisive disputes between political parties.  At some point we all need to set aside our differences, and focus on what is truly valuable, in this case, preserving the United States of America.

From the descriptions we have of the early church, we see a group that loved, shared, and were completely devoted to Christ and his teachings. As the years went by, men intervened and divisions took place, threatening to destroy this precious unity.  Christianity took some ugly turns; the Crusades, and the Inquisition are but two sad chapters it its history. Instead of loving people into the Kingdom of God, we threatened, forced, and manipulated “believers” in. Even now, we see painful divisions in the church, stemming mainly from different Biblical interpretations, and church traditions.  “My church is better than yours, mine is older than yours or you’re just plain wrong” are the new battle cries.  This behavior should break our hearts, we are members of the same family folks, we have the same Father, and we’re hurling hate and abuse at each other.  My point is, we can’t continue to call ourselves Christians, while remaining separated from our brothers and sisters. We all are the church, the ekklesía, or “called out (from the world) ones“,  that Jesus instituted.

Peter, yes the same one who both confessed and denied Christ, saw the beginnings of these Family Feuds, and was compelled to write the following:   “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.” 1 Peter 3:8-9.

 Make every effort, yes it takes work, to live in unity with our whole family. It will please our  “Abba/Dad” so much!  “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 133:1