Unite as in John 17

Live and Let Live but Unite

I attended a meeting the other day in which many denominations were represented. Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist – all denominations which have eschewed each other in the past, coming together in the essence of unity as described in John 17. Each respected the differences – theological, liturgical, doctrinal etc - between them but all were united on a bed of shared agreed beliefs. It all hinges on the answers to these simple questions

·        Do you believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – the trinity or triune God? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe that Jesus died for our sins – your sin, my sin, everybody’s sin? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe in the Apostle's Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of faith? If so, we are in agreement.

·        Do you believe in the two Sacraments ordained by the Christ Himself - Baptism and the Supper of the Lord - ministered with  use of Christ's words of institution, and the elements ordained by Him? If so, we are in agreement.

If we all agree on these simple tenets of faith, then we have a basis for unity. Each must respect the others practices and beliefs where they differ from ours, but on the basis of our shared basic beliefs, we can unite and pray, and worship God together.

We heard three different types of music – Gregorian chant, grand choral, traditional hymns, and modern music. The question asked was this – which one was worship? All of them of course. It doesn’t matter on our style of worship. After all, worship is worship is worship. It is the same with prayers and with liturgical style – each to his own. What matters when we unite is that we worship God together with one heart; we pray together with one heart; and we fellowship together with one heart too. Of course we have to be careful to avoid contention or doctrinal clashes, but generally we can be in agreement and unity of mind and purpose – to advance God’s Kingdom here “on earth as it is in heaven”.

It must surely be worthy of some effort to fulfil John 17 – mustn’t it? We becoming one with Jesus even as He is one with the Father.