Unity Through Diversity 

Can’t we all just get along? Forget the world, can’t we as believers get along? Of course we bless each other until we say the wrong thing or step on some toes and out comes the flesh. But nothing gets the attention of non-believers quicker then those who disagree and still stay unified. I get skeptical when I see a group of Christians all saying the same thing and believing the same thing with no difference of opinion. The Lord calls us to be unified, but not to be spiritual robots. Let’s face it we don’t all believe the same thing, baring the primary teachings or Christian Orthodoxy. Concerning the Apostles Creed the body is in sink, and that’s the only time the Bible says to divide. It’s the secondary teachings we have such a hard time with, and if the world needed our unity, it’s now. Whether we realize it or not there is a raging battle going on both in the seen and the unseen. Scripture calls the unseen spiritual warfare and there’s another battle going on for the hearts and minds of those potential believers and Satan wants them all. Now’s hardly the time for squabbling over when the Lord’s coming. But we know that He is, and Prophecy is my favorite topic of debate, not division. There was a time when I would divide over this subject but then I grew up and realized how much a turn off it is to those who are checking out the Kingdom. As a Pentecostal I get hammered all the time about many things, and tongues is a hot one. But nothing turns away a soul from heavens gates faster than to see Christians fight. Not that we should compromise our passion, but keep the debate in house and not in the street so to speak. I remember reading about a police officer asking a lady what she believed in when he wrote up an accident report and she expressed no anger. She didn’t even have to ask him if he knew Jesus, he was asking her. God could be at the brink of giving us the nations, let’s not give them back to the devil because we couldn’t be on the same page. I believe it will start in America and spread through out the rest of the world. They’re many wounds in America’s church history that God wants to heal, and one is denominational quarrels. There are many Christians who won’t fellowship with those who believe something they don’t. The I don’t swear, spit, smoke, chew, or go with those who do crowd. Sounds funny, but it’s tragic to see the altar egos in action. There are traditions in the Church that need to die, and some to die for. Let God touch us and there will be many rocky pasts becoming smooth in tearful embrace. Break the strong holds and the rest will follow. Reconciliation will wipe out the past grievance with a new tomorrow. Jesus prayed in Jn 17 that we would be one. Let the treasure He’s put in our hearts shine, and then give it away. The greater works Jesus said we would do will be built on networks of friendship. Perfect unity bound in love, from phileo to agape, sanctified by God up above. Post 9-11 is a sobering present to be living in. There is a lot of hating going on out there and we have the love gift to put that hate to bed for a long time, but we must do it right. We must be as Jesus said, be wise a serpents, but harmless as doves. What does that mean? There’s a lot of scared individuals among the bad ones out there, and the good ones are looking for a friend, so let God use you for the good, while you keep your eye out for the bad. We are the lights shining in the darkness, and as the world gets darker, it will be easier for the lost to see us. God bless, 

Tom Miller.