A UNIFIED PEOPLE

        Unity is so important. "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'" (Matthew 12:25)

        I feel like there are too many designations, divisions and classifications in our society that continually fight against - we the people.  America has definitely moved away from being one nation under God to one nation under many gods and/or distractions. The color of your skin and one's gender have not only distracted us from moving forward and progressing as a leading nation, but set the spirit of confusion over the country as well. 

        Unfortunately, that same strife infected The Church many years ago, about the time America was being born. Christians have branches called Denominations (i.e. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc...) because of disagreements on baptism, Communion details, worship, doctrine, political views and social views.

        For some time now leaders in Christianity have been promoting what St. Augustine (354–430 AD) said over 1500 years ago: "In essentials, unity. In non–essentials, liberty. In all things, love." But where in The Bible is there anything that is "non-essential"? 

        The entire Word of God matters or should matter, not just bits and pieces. Believers in Christ should not give up on understanding and believing correctly about the additional topics of Scripture after Salvation. Subjects like The Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, laying on of hands and prophecy should not be shunned. As a whole body, believers should do the research and find that Scripture has plenty to say about them and incorporate them into our lives and local churches.

        Christ Jesus, The Messiah, is not a member of any particular denomination. The Imperials sing, "it won't be a Baptist that is sitting on The Throne, a Presbyterian or a Methodist that's calling us home and it won't be a Charismatic that plays that trumpet tune - so let's all just live for Jesus, because He is coming back real soon." (song, Imperials, "Oh Buddha")

        In Ephesians 2:14, 18 - Paul wrote about who God is and what He has done to make us unified with Him - "He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation...For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." The torn Veil in The Temple at the moment of Christ's sacrificial death was testimony to the breaking down of this wall of separation.

        Also in Galatians 3:28 Paul continues this thought of family and unification when he stated - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

        The day is coming when the perfect manifestation of unity will be on display for all to see and experience. This eternal day of unity will be all because of and sustained by Christ Jesus, King of kings, Lord of lords and Prince of Peace. But, until then The Church needs to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, God's special possession that we may declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). A Unified People.