Churches would have far greater impact on their communities if they left discord and division behind to pursue unity under the headship of Christ.
by Chad Caldwell
I received an award for the highest grade in history class in fifth grade at Ficquett Elementary School. Little did I know it would be the apex of my academic career. Nonetheless, my love for history has stuck with me. Recently, that love has driven me to study history again, Christian history in particular. I have discovered that throughout history, when Christians have worked together under the headship of Jesus, things have changed for the better. Whether in the building of hospitals and schools or caring for the least of these, when Christians have banded together, cultures have been transformed.
As the West has continued down the road of secular humanism, staunch opponents and critics of Christianity—think Tom Holland, Douglas Murray and even Richard Dawkins—have, even if begrudgingly, acknowledged the positive effects Christianity has had on culture. There are many reasons for the decline of Christian influence in the West, but I think one stands out: a failure to work with one another under the headship of Christ.
“The glory of the Gospel is that when the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it.”
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones
In one of the most beautiful sections of Scripture, John 17, Jesus prays for three things as he prepares to have God’s wrath for the world’s sin poured out upon Him. He prays for Himself, His disciples and all those who would believe through hearing the disciples’ message. If you are a believer today, you fall into the last group. What was His prayer? That we would all be one, even as He and the Father are one. You don’t have to be a theologian to know that it doesn’t get more “one” than the Triune Creator of all things. Yet, this is what He prayed: that believers would be one. If you are a believer, I urge you to stop and consider how we’re fulfilling this prayer. An honest assessment would lead us to one conclusion: not well.
Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks wrote: “Discord and division become no Christian. For wolves to worry the lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous.” What happens when we, as fellow believers under the headship of Christ, take the call of oneness seriously? The second part of verse 21 tells us, “so that the world would believe you sent Me.” That is ultimately what is at stake. When we put aside all secondary issues, our own pride and anything ungodly that would separate us as believers, the Gospel is shown to be what it truly is: the power of God unto salvation.
I believe that if Jesus prayed this prayer, then it’s possible to fulfill. Last time I counted, there were over 200 churches in our county. What if even a handful decided to seek oneness? Not for personal gain or church growth, but for God’s glory and kingdom growth. I believe people would take notice. I believe many would be added to God’s church. Fellow believers, let us do our part to see the prayer of Jesus answered.
Chad Caldwell is the lead pastor of Journey Church in Oxford. For information, visit journeychurchoxford.org.
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