Diversity is as visible in the church as it is in society. There are many “brands” of churches and our members come from most of these church backgrounds. There are liberal, conservative, reformed, Anglo-catholic, Pentecostal and charismatic churches. There are white, black, brown, English and Afrikaans churches. Our members come from all these church backgrounds. And it is a challenge for our quest for unity in Christ.
It requires all the humility Christ can give us through his Spirit to pursue the dream of "One Jesus, and therefore united in one Church!"
Yet the Bible teaches that we must serve and love as one in his church, because we follow one Jesus. He is the Head of the Christian church which is a single, universal Body with one purpose.
According to Acts 1: 14 – 15, the Christian church was established when all the believers were together in one place and prayed in one accord. The result was that our Lord sent the Holy Spirit to fill the church and let the Spirit take charge of it. (Acts 2:1-4). This church was so strong in the power of the risen Christ, that they in one generation claimed all of the known ancient world for Jesus. (Acts 17:6).
Therefore we must always be careful that Jesus’ personal influence on us and as such on his church and work, never becomes less as a result of personal or ethnic causes and passions becoming more important than him.
It is Christ’s will to respond to our coming together as his one, holy Bride, by giving us spiritual growth, stronger faith, hope, love, inspiration and a sense of calling and obedience when we as his Body, only focus on following Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Real unity can only exist in the church, when we humbly focus on our Saviour. Then we can live up to a slogan that says: one Jesus, one Church! The purpose of unity against all odds, is to efficiently serve Christ and his work.
The Christian church began by being in one accord, in prayer. They experienced the fullness of the Spirit and as a result experienced a unity of love to the extent that many converted, because they were convinced by this unity in Christ that Jesus really is alive and is the almighty leader of his people that lives and reigns in his church. (Acts 2:4, 44-47; 4:23-37)
When we become proudly self-centred and more concerned about ourselves and our preferences than about the Body in which we find love, mercy and salvation, there will be a decline in our spiritual growth and passion for the Lord. Only a congregation that follows Jesus as one, can ever experience unity and in this unity share in the power of the risen Christ Jesus.
What does God require of us in order to be more like the first church? To never be half-hearted in our obedience to him. We must be passionate in our pursuit for the honour and will of our Lord. We must give Jesus pre-eminence in all things. We must demonstrate our love for Jesus with humble, sacrificial lives of obedience, serving him, because we are to do his work as one. This is Christ’s purpose and intention for us!
Shall we not during 2010 consistently unite in prayer and worship and in the experience of the powerful leadership of Jesus in everything we do? Then we can move ahead as one Church, with the sole purpose to follow, love and obey one Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment