Last week, an angry mob stormed the Capital building in Washington, D.C. The political provocations over the last 4 years reached a boiling point and the political pressure cooker exploded! I won't address the motives, as I cannot answer for each individual; but their actions I do condemn as wrong. Some of the 2020 protests had good reason and intentions; but mobs, looting, riots, vigilante justice, defacing of statues & Federal buildings, destruction of cities & businesses, or overtaking the Capital can never be condoned. No matter how warranted your cause or what issue/decision you might disagree with, anarchy and chaos cannot be endorsed or justified by a follower of Jesus Christ.
It is time to call the Church of Jesus Christ to repentance and seek to restore unity in the House of God. Dr. Tony Evans said it this way, “
Simultaneous to our medical pandemic, we’re in a cultural pandemic – a devolution of our society caused by a spiritual pandemic. We have wondered away from a value system that was established by God for how human beings were to live and act and relate to one another.”
Today, I call your attention back to what is known as the High Priestly Prayer:
John 17:20-23 NLT - I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one -- as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 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.
This is one of Jesus' last prayers here on earth. In this prayer, He is asking the Father to make the Disciples (then & future) to be as one. He was praying for unity. Jesus could have asked His Father for anything, but He asked for unity among the Disciples (the Church). So, allow me to share a few thoughts about unity...1. Unity is imperative for the sake of the mission!
The Church has been commissioned to carry the message of God's unconditional love and forgiveness both locally and globally (Matt.28:19-20) . When an unsaved world sees believers who are unforgiving, hate-filled and cannot get along with each other; that pushes them away. Why would anyone desire to have a relationship with God, if His people are so angry? We are ambassadors for Christ and what others see in us, they assume is true of the One we represent! Jesus said it is by our love that people will know we are His disciples (John 13:35). Division destroys our credibility and hinders this mission!
2. Unity reveals God's glory.
"Glory" is symbolic of the tangible presence of God. You see it mentioned when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, when the angels appeared to the shepherds, etc. God's glory was given to His Church, so let us live and act like we are in His presence. We are to be lights shining eternal hope into the darkness of this world.
3. Unity should be the standard for Christ-followers.
- Pursue it
- Maintain it
- Glorify God by it
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