Recently I've been reminded again at just how Christians can differ over important matters such as politics, science, theology, and we can add more: spiritual gifts, culture, views on disputable issues like dancing, etc. So often these are brought to the forefront and end up dividing us who are actually one in Jesus.
We need a clarion call back to the unity we have in Jesus by the Spirit. We are to pray, "Our Father....", and we're to be united as one. Do I always do well in this? No. Sometimes I grow weary of disputes over what divide us as Christians, and just seek to withdraw. There is a time and place for that. But in the end we're all in this together, and we need to learn to live well together with all our differences.
We need to quit looking at other Christians under this label and that, and see that essentially we're all one in Christ, members of his Body, together as God's people in this world. We don't have to resolve all our differences to live well in this way. But it is a challenge at times.
What do you think the answer is to this problem? Maybe you encounter this reality over different matters, such as differing opinions by people who essentially agree on most everything else.
What ways any reader out there has found helpful towards the hard work of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4)?
Showing posts with label being Christ-centered. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being Christ-centered. Show all posts
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
when Christ is not the center
When Jesus is not the center we Christians naturally run into all sorts of problems. Of course we're really on our own then, and operating according to the flesh, not according to the Spirit.
I think we can get off center as we put other things in place of Jesus, good things, and sometimes not so good, or even bad I'm afraid (for all of us). I believe in a Christian pacifist stance but that can become central to Christians in a way that misses the point of it, in Jesus. Then it's no longer lived out in Jesus, but we're on our own, and that can look sadly ugly. (not here to debate the issue of Christian pacifism, and even if this position is flawed, it does have something important and true to say, but only in Jesus- I believe).
We can get off center as Christians in the United States these days, as we consider the election. That it has to be this or that, even on such stands that are important, like the Christian stand for the sanctity of life. If Jesus isn't central in all this, then we end up acting and looking like the world, right before the world, and in the name of our Lord, and so we can sully his name.
When Jesus is not the center, then we in Jesus will quickly divide over any number of issues. Like how one is going to vote in this country on Tuesday. Or over what theological tradition we believe in. Or over anything at all, maybe a disagreement over something.
Jesus must ever remain the center for us, and as we look to him together, we can more and more see that our differences are secondary to that. That it is the Spirit who gives us oneness here and now, a oneness we're to work hard at preserving and maintaining. And that we have one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. So that we can live well together in spite of our differences because Jesus is at the center. All that is good and true for us to live out God's good will in his kingdom for here and now are found in him.
So let's make it a point, especially us Christians over here in the United States during this divided election season, to make sure Jesus is at the center. That we may simply agree to disagree, because what is central to us all is the same. Not always easy. But we need to learn to live this out before the world.
What would you like to add to this?
I think we can get off center as we put other things in place of Jesus, good things, and sometimes not so good, or even bad I'm afraid (for all of us). I believe in a Christian pacifist stance but that can become central to Christians in a way that misses the point of it, in Jesus. Then it's no longer lived out in Jesus, but we're on our own, and that can look sadly ugly. (not here to debate the issue of Christian pacifism, and even if this position is flawed, it does have something important and true to say, but only in Jesus- I believe).
We can get off center as Christians in the United States these days, as we consider the election. That it has to be this or that, even on such stands that are important, like the Christian stand for the sanctity of life. If Jesus isn't central in all this, then we end up acting and looking like the world, right before the world, and in the name of our Lord, and so we can sully his name.
When Jesus is not the center, then we in Jesus will quickly divide over any number of issues. Like how one is going to vote in this country on Tuesday. Or over what theological tradition we believe in. Or over anything at all, maybe a disagreement over something.
Jesus must ever remain the center for us, and as we look to him together, we can more and more see that our differences are secondary to that. That it is the Spirit who gives us oneness here and now, a oneness we're to work hard at preserving and maintaining. And that we have one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. So that we can live well together in spite of our differences because Jesus is at the center. All that is good and true for us to live out God's good will in his kingdom for here and now are found in him.
So let's make it a point, especially us Christians over here in the United States during this divided election season, to make sure Jesus is at the center. That we may simply agree to disagree, because what is central to us all is the same. Not always easy. But we need to learn to live this out before the world.
What would you like to add to this?
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