Our Real Basis of Unity
I got a call this week from a reporter at the Montgomery Advertiser, our local newspaper. After already being misquoted in the Dallas Morning News, I was a little hesitant to be interviewed. But, this was for an entirely different reason. Someone in our congregation thought that what is going to happen Sunday night is newsworthy, and I guess it is. We have invited Family Life Bible Fellowship, a predominately black church, to join us for our annual Christmas party, the Christmas Extravaganza. The reporter thought that this was interesting, because it is rare to see black and white churches working together this way. He asked me if I thought that was significant.
Well, I guess it is. But, it shouldn't be. And, Pastor Slater and I are not doing this because we are tying to prove some type of racial unity point. We're doing it because we're friends. We've come together before and it just seemed like it would be fun. Unity is much easier when you are actually in relationship with someone, instead of it being contrived.
When I think about the difficulties that we addressed at the Roundtable discussion in Arlington on Tuesday, and I think about this event coming on Sunday, I understand more and more that I am not unified with others just because we have Baptist on our name. As a matter of fact, if there is no relationship, it doesn't matter what your name is - we're probably not going to be real effective working together. Unity first comes from being a like minded believer in Christ. Secondly, it comes from love. Thirdly, it comes from being in relationship. You have to be friends to trust one another and work together. This has been one of the benefits of the blogs: it has been a forum for building relationships and friendships with other pastors that I never would have met otherwise.
Perhaps our racial problems in the U.S. have more to do with a lack of friendship and understanding, than anything else.
Perhaps our family problems have more to do with a lack of time spent together in mutually edifying relationships and friendships, than anything else. The same can be said for many of the problems in our churches.
Perhaps the problems in the SBC have far more to do with the fact that we don't have strong relationships, than it does with a lack of giving to the Cooperative Program.
Christ is the basis for our unity. Nothing else. If you are in Christ, you are my brother. You are my friend. And, because He lives in me, sacrificial love is there for even my enemies. During the Christmas season, lets try and share that love with family, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and even enemies. Maybe God will surprise all of us!
Alan, amen. My point exactly. It's a wonder that believers really don't like other believers. I guess that's what makes it difficult for me to sling too much mud. I disagree pretty often with Tim Rogers, Les Puryear, Wes Kenney, Robin Foster, and others, and yet I just like them.
I believe that relationship, by the way, may be the greatest component in church growth. If people are plugged into relationship both with God and others there is a tremendous chance the church will flourish.
Blessings!
Posted by: micah | December 08, 2006 at 09:35 AM
Alan -
You said: "If there is no relationship ... we're probably not going to be real effective working together."
So simple and yet quite profound. I agree that we can't just wave a magic wand and say let's all get along now. It appears that Christian unity takes a little effort at getting to know people.
Thanks for the insight, and hope you have a really fun Christmas party.
Posted by: Dorcas Hawker | December 08, 2006 at 10:29 AM
Amen, Bro... Amen
Posted by: Chris McCorkle | December 08, 2006 at 01:00 PM
You wanna preach that in here sometime? Holy racial divide, Batman. We could use more of that kind of stuff in New Orleans. Especially now.
Posted by: Joe Kennedy | December 08, 2006 at 02:53 PM
Brother Alan,
Amen. Relationship! How do we hone in on relationships within the SBC? Great words of compassion and wisdom.
Blessings,
Tim
Posted by: Tim Rogers | December 08, 2006 at 09:18 PM
Praise the Lord, Alan. And, yes, when I read some of the stuff written by people against brothers and sisters in Christ I am aghast. They seem to have forgotten that we are family, that we belong to one another, that their attacks are no different than if they were to get mad at their left hand and decided to cut it off. You truly are representing Christ well. May God give you the grace to continue, ambassador.
Posted by: Bryan Riley | December 09, 2006 at 02:02 AM
Your thoughts about unity in the body of Christ at large also apply to unity within the leadership of a church.
You said: "Unity first comes from being a like minded believer in Christ. Secondly, it comes from love. Thirdly, it comes from being in relationship. You have to be friends to trust one another and work together."
Perhaps we haven't made time to get to know one another.
By His grace,
Tom
Posted by: Tom Kotouc | December 09, 2006 at 07:44 AM
Alan, one of the most wonderful times my husband and I had was when God gave us the opportunity to spend 14 months helping a multi-cultural church in discipleship.
We were the ones who learned. But in building relationships-someone has to make the move. I'm glad to hear you and your congregation are! Diversity in the body brings strength. We were so blessed and remain close to the pastor and friends still today with that congregation.
Posted by: Alycelee | December 12, 2006 at 11:04 AM