So, I know I have not posted in a while, but God really laid it on my heart to share my thoughts today. As background, my wife and I are no longer living in the U.S., but are serving in foreign missions...which has really given us a new perspective on following Christ. With that as a backdrop, we just left church. During worship we sang the following:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
It was so refreshing to be in an environment where these words are lived out everyday, but, it also breaks my heart to see the majority of Christians in America so focused on self that they have left their first love, CHRIST. Suffice it to say, I believe most unbelievers see no difference between the world and the church today in the U.S., and that is very, very sad. We as Christians should never compromise on our basic tenets of faith alone in Christ alone, by grace alone for salvation. But when it comes to issues not clearly spelled out in scripture, there should never be vitriol in our response to our brothers in Christ, yet that is now a common theme.
I am reminded of the words Paul penned in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12:
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
We would all do well to heed these words and do our very best to live each day walking in love for one another.
In CHRIST,
Rohn