I had a call yesterday from Pope Francis’ personal apostolic emissary on unity. He has helped the Jesus Alliance and has made some public statements touting unity and was being thoroughly lambasted for it by several people within the institutionalized church.
Basically all he said was that regardless of how people choose to worship we should all unite as one body of Christ in obedience to what Jesus prayed in John 17 (I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.).
His detractors insisted that folks should not worship as they see fit, rather they must take communion in their denomination’s prescribed manner and observe other doctrine unique to their teachings.
Really?
I was warned that an Arch Bishop might call and try to convince me to ignore my friend’s remarks. I hope he does, because I want to ask him if he thinks that Jesus is more interested in following some ritual to observe communion or unite with other brothers and sisters within His church to glorify Christ.
It just shows the power of demonic influence within the organized church. It’s this, “my way or the highway”, legalistic attitude that turns people away from Christ. Jesus prayed that we should come together in order that others might believe. These pious legalists don’t get that and neither did the Pharisees.
One of the most influential Christians of modern time was Bill Bright founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, (CRU). The Jesus Film was also produced under his watch and all of the various ministries that he helped organize literally reached billions of people for Christ. Bill Bright’s attitude toward unity was that if someone loved Jesus, he could work with them.
I’ve heard some Protestants criticizing Pope Francis for all sorts of things. While I’m not a Catholic I hear him boldly speaking out against the taking of innocent life, helping the poor, loving one another, upholding traditional marriage and a myriad of other things that I envision Jesus would say. Too bad some preachers from other denominations don’t have similar courage to speak the truth.
I see the humble kindness and compassion in the Pope’s face and I know God is close to this man. I know he loves Jesus with all of his heart and I know that I can work with him. I don’t have to become a Roman Catholic and won’t, but I can join hands and work together with this man to take the Gospel to every nation, to help the poor and join together praying for this world.
News flash: The rituals that have grown through centuries of tradition are not in the Bible. I wish everyone would at least read the New Testament for themselves in order to see what Jesus really cares about. He is concerned for the lost, the poor, the downtrodden, children, and the sanctity of all life from its beginning to its end, He dislikes those who put impossible burdens on the people with their impossible demands and rituals and long flowing prayers. In short Jesus is love. We as the body of believers in his church should follow His example. Love All – Serve All!
Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church, (or somewhere) this Sunday.
Matt. 23:13
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.”
September 25, 2015 – Click here to listen