What Kind of Church Do You Want to Be? -- FPC sermon excerpt
United We Stand.
This is a familiar phrase to us, especially in these years after the terrorist attacks of 9-11. There is truth in these words, for our country and for our church. The opposite is also true: Divided We Fall.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall. What do these words mean for us today?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for unity, asking that we “may all be one” (John 17:21). It is one of the deepest desires of Jesus that we be united, and one of the greatest failures of the Christian Church is that we have allowed ourselves to become divided — split first into Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, and then into Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, and a variety of other denominations.
Baptists are particularly well known for their church splits. I’ve heard it said that Baptists have a unique church growth strategy — they multiply by division.
These divisions are out of line with the intentions of Jesus, since he prayed “that we may all be one.” But what does this unity look like? In this particular passage from John, the message is hard to understand — Jesus offers what you might say is “a prayer of pronouns.” He says, “I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one.” I, them, you, me, they — it’s a prayer of pronouns. I know that this can be confusing.
But let’s focus on one critical point: Jesus wants us to be one, as he and God the Father are one (v. 22). This is not a unity of nationality, age, race, culture, politics, skin color, or even musical preference. This is a unity of purpose — a unity of message, ministry and mission.
The amazing thing about this passage is that it suggests that Jesus wants to break down the distinctions that usually exist between what is divine and what is human. Jesus wants us to be connected with him and with God in a close and intimate relationship. He wants us to share the very same passions and sense of purpose that God and Jesus share. It pulls us closer to the Lord than almost any other passage of Scripture, inviting us into the very presence of God. Jesus says to God, “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one” (v. 22).
So, what kind of church do you want to be? Do you want to be united, or divided? Connected with God and Jesus, or separated from them? It’s your choice, and it’s a choice you have to make each and every day. One thing is clear, however — Jesus wants us to be united. He prays that we “may all be one,” and he wants us to be part of the message, ministry and mission that Jesus and his Father have brought into the world.
This is a familiar phrase to us, especially in these years after the terrorist attacks of 9-11. There is truth in these words, for our country and for our church. The opposite is also true: Divided We Fall.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall. What do these words mean for us today?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for unity, asking that we “may all be one” (John 17:21). It is one of the deepest desires of Jesus that we be united, and one of the greatest failures of the Christian Church is that we have allowed ourselves to become divided — split first into Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, and then into Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, and a variety of other denominations.
Baptists are particularly well known for their church splits. I’ve heard it said that Baptists have a unique church growth strategy — they multiply by division.
These divisions are out of line with the intentions of Jesus, since he prayed “that we may all be one.” But what does this unity look like? In this particular passage from John, the message is hard to understand — Jesus offers what you might say is “a prayer of pronouns.” He says, “I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one.” I, them, you, me, they — it’s a prayer of pronouns. I know that this can be confusing.
But let’s focus on one critical point: Jesus wants us to be one, as he and God the Father are one (v. 22). This is not a unity of nationality, age, race, culture, politics, skin color, or even musical preference. This is a unity of purpose — a unity of message, ministry and mission.
The amazing thing about this passage is that it suggests that Jesus wants to break down the distinctions that usually exist between what is divine and what is human. Jesus wants us to be connected with him and with God in a close and intimate relationship. He wants us to share the very same passions and sense of purpose that God and Jesus share. It pulls us closer to the Lord than almost any other passage of Scripture, inviting us into the very presence of God. Jesus says to God, “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one” (v. 22).
So, what kind of church do you want to be? Do you want to be united, or divided? Connected with God and Jesus, or separated from them? It’s your choice, and it’s a choice you have to make each and every day. One thing is clear, however — Jesus wants us to be united. He prays that we “may all be one,” and he wants us to be part of the message, ministry and mission that Jesus and his Father have brought into the world.
posted by Henry Brinton | 9:46 AM
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