Pastor’s Corner: “N-Sync (not the band)”
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) – He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
In the recent presidential and vice-presidential debates we can clearly see the divide represented that reflects what is currently going on all over in country. People in the church can also get upset about and even divided over many different things. They don’t like a certain song or think the worship is too loud—or not loud enough. We’ve become worship critics and sermon connoisseurs. Meanwhile, we have brothers and sisters in Christ living in other parts of the world who would count it the highest privilege to sing any Christian song and hear any message from God’s Word.
It’s okay to have opinions, but we should never sow disunity. What a destructive witness it is to a lost world when Christians are divided and bickering just like them. And what a powerful witness it is when people see Christians loving one another. We need to be set apart, different from the world. At times the church seems to be a reflection of the world rather than a reflection of the amazing love of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT) – Divisions in the Church – 10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. There’s a great statement attributed to Augustine that says, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity [love].”
There are essentials we can’t budge on. For example, if you were to say to me, “Pastor, I don’t really believe the Bible is the Word of God or that Jesus Christ is the only way to God,” then we have some things to discuss. I will go toe to toe with anyone, anytime on the essentials because I love people, not because I have to be right. We need unity in the essentials, in the basic truths of the Christian life. There is no middle ground on the way to heaven and on this we cannot budge for the sake of souls – John 14:6 (NIV) – 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
But then in non-essentials, there is liberty (freedom and grace). Maybe you have a different view on end-times events. You don’t think the Rapture could happen at any time; you think it could happen halfway through the Tribulation period. That is a nonessential. I have friends who are pastors, and we don’t agree on every little theological point. But they’re very good friends of mine because we have a lot in common and especially the most important and essential things in power and unity through His Spirit. Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) – 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Do you know the difference between the essentials and the non-essentials? What are the ways that the Lord is asking you to love and bless others in the church (or in the world) that are different from you? How can we expect to have an impact in love and unity on our divided country when we cannot even come together in the church? Psalm 133:1 (ESV) – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
In His Love & Grace,
Pastor Hamilton