Our country is polarized beyond the pale. Democrats hate Republicans and vice versa. No one wants to work with each other and when one side or the other makes a blunder the other side is gleeful even if it means, (as it often does) that our country is harmed.
God does not want us to live our lives in such a manner, especially those of us in His church. In I John 17:21 Jesus prayed for unity in His church, praying: “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; . . .
Hmmm . . . He repeated this “ONE” concept twice in the same passage, and yet instead of unity, just the opposite, (fragmentation), occurred. It is absurdity that there are now some 43,000 denominations in the world. Joseph Matteras recently addressed this problem:
“Ever since the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity divided in the 11th century, some of the greatest fears of the once united Christendom have been realized: fragmentation and division. The reformers didn’t envision all the denominations, various branches and networks of Christianity that have evolved, which has given opportunity for a spirit of lawlessness, independence and empire building among some insecure but gifted leaders. It is not the purpose of this article to judge whether all these expressions are of God or not. However, the following will show us some signs revealing when the motivation to build a church, ministry or network is akin to when the human race attempted to build their own empire epitomized by the Tower of Babel, which God judged and scattered across the whole earth (Genesis 11:1-18).
In 1 Kings 11:11 and 12:16 God divided the Kingdom of Israel because of religious apostasy, which is the same reason the Catholic Church was judged and fragmented (too much concentration of power in the hands of humans who deviated from the true way of Jesus and the Apostles). God will judge His church and hold back revival from certain churches, ministries and regions when their key spiritual leaders are attempting to build themselves empires rather than build the kingdom. Leaders talk the talk but their actions speak louder than their so called “kingdom first words”. . .
The Jesus Alliance was formed to initiate unity rather than fragmentation. It is an uphill battle, (just the kind Jesus likes). Anyone who loves and follows Jesus and is “all in” is welcome. We are not building yet another church or denomination rather an alliance of those who love Jesus from varied denominations or non-denominations asking for uniformity, and simply that we work together as ONE to fight a common enemy.
The real problem is that the church so often fragments because leadership puts their desires and ambitions above those of our Savior; (Isn’t that what satan tried?)
We see the same thing in the not so United States of America. It is not America for which they work, instead they work for themselves and their respective political parties. It is a sure way to fail.
We must pray for unity in the church as we battle an enemy that is far more united than we are. If you doubt that ask yourself how the 1.6% of atheists in our country effectively have taken God out of our public domain. The homosexual agenda is another example. 2.6% of our population is gay; however their agenda is so pervasive one would think that the entire population practices it by watching any form of media. Both examples listed are united, organized, passionate about their cause, well financed, and they have a plan and follow it. The church is fragmented, disorganized, and not well financed, dispassionate about unity, and we don’t even have a plan. No wonder we are losing these battles.
Pray about it! Pray for change and revival to occur.
Today my good friend T. K.Wetherell undergoes serious surgery. I ask that you pray for him and that this operation will work even better than expected and he will be completely healed. Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church, (or somewhere) this weekend.
Phil. 2:2
Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
March 13, 2015 – Click here to listen