How interesting that other religions purport a brand of unity that either dilutes the Gospel into ineffectiveness or ignores it completely. Whereas you have every other religion (or lack thereof) under the sun advertised as a different yet equally valid path to God, Christianity is so splintered as to be hardly recognizable as the true way (back) to Him. When Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me" (John 14:6), how can this be misconstrued and misinterpreted?
But this isn't necessarily my problem. At least not until these other things get dealt with.
Within our church there seem to be different languages spoken. I'm not talking about cross-cultural, linguistic barriers, I'm referring to the phenomenon where someone can use the words love and mercy and forgiveness and mean something completely different than how the Bible defines and describes them.
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Philippians 3:10)
Are we spiritually astute enough to hear those in our churches who are hurting? Those who have a need for love that's not being met? These people are speaking, crying out in a language that, unless we are in tune with Jesus and His sufferings, we are going to misunderstand or just miss altogether. Jesus hears them and He knows what they're going through. He understands their pain. The suffering of Jesus is the great equalizer. When you are willing to "condescend to men (and women) of low estate" (Romans 12:16) and see that God loves these people through you, (and heals them if need be) this is acceptable to God. This will do more to heal the fractures and splinters in our church than any program or fund or mission trip. Mother Teresa was a master at seeing Jesus in everyone. And God blessed and rewarded the work of her hands.
I've wondered about this for a long time: maybe this is why "not a bone of Him was broken" (John 19:35) when Jesus was crucified. Because Jesus is not divided. Not splintered and not fractured. And we are "complete in Him" (Colossians 2:10). Let us dwell on this truth, this reality and let it heal us. Our minds, our hearts, (our bodies if need be) and our churches.
"For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." (Ephesians 5:30)