I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:23
This weekend we enjoyed leading an unusual service. The Baptist, Methodist, and Assembly of God churches all got together for a Sunday evening service. We had a blast!
What is sad is that this IS unusual. Modern denominationalism has got a lot of people very mixed up about the ways of the Lord. It often seems as if churches believe that they are in competition with one another! And this is no friendly competition either. It's like they're out for blood! Is it any wonder that we are seeing such a decline in the church in America?
On the night that he was betrayed, Jesus left US instructions about how we were to live. These instructions were for the church that had not even officially started yet. His words were part of a prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples - Present (the twelve) and future (us!). In John 17:20, He specifically identifies who He is praying for: "not only for these disciples, but for ALL who will EVER believe in me through their message" (emphasis mine).
So if Jesus cared enough to spend His final hours on earth praying for us, what He was saying must have been important. There was an urgency to His words, because He knew His time on earth was short, but His message needed to continue even when He was no longer physically present on earth.
So what was so important to Jesus that He devoted His last hours to praying for us? Was it that He wanted all of His followers to go to Bible college and seminary so that they could be properly equipped to share His Word? Was it that He wanted them to build big, beautiful buildings for people to gather in worship? Was it that He wanted the coming church to provide cutting edge programming for people of all ages? Was it stewardship programs, or committee meetings, or church suppers? No. It was none of these things.
What Jesus devoted His final hours to was not what most modern churches are devoting their time and attention to. And yet, if we would just look at what our Lord said, He has given us the key to building an effective church:
"... May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them..."
The way the world will be able to know that God sent Jesus is by the unity of the believers. Is it any wonder that people find little need of the church today? What we need is not another program, or a fancier building, or more cutting edge technology or a different style of music.
If we really want the world to come to Christ - if we want them to know Jesus as Son of God and Savior - if we truly want them to know the love of Jesus - He told us how to make it happen: UNITY.
When the church stops its internal bickering, when we stop this crazy denominational competition, when we all get busy loving one another and bearing one another's burdens... you never know - we might just change our world!
...Just a thought...
