Call to Unity
A Call to Unity
In the Name of
Yehoshua HaMashiach
The Lord Jesus Christ
This essay is a call, in the love of Jesus, for all churches who claim to be “Christian” to come together to common ground. Said common ground is the Word of God: the book that we say we get our values from. As you know, sometimes the truth hurts, but it’s the truth. I don’t have money and time invested in a formal seminary. I don’t have a church ministry to lose if they don’t like what I say, so I have nothing to lose by telling the truth.
I don’t yet accept the thought that bringing the church to unity is impossible. Everybody knows that With God, Nothing Is Impossible. [Look at that word “yet”--we may see in the future that unity is indeed impossible--such a thought grieves me.]
I would also accept the truth if it turns out that something I teach is wrong; repent, rejoice, and move on to glory, teaching the right doctrine. After all, this is not about me and my credibility being so far above reproach. This is about the church becoming one, as Jesus prayed that it would be for the glory of God.
The words of Jesus: And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:22,23)
Unity
One Lord, one faith, one baptism(Eph 4:5) . . .
The church: Catholic, Protestant, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Church of the Nazarene, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, Unitarian, Pentecostal, Puritan, Quaker, and others (more than can be listed here, and still be brief).
Some say, "We are the true church, and all others are only denominational sowers of heresy". Others say, "There are true christians in every church", and others, "We're all God's children, and brothers and sisters in God's way", and on and on . . . Although we don't agree on the truth, we can all just get along by agreeing to disagree. So much for the Unity of the church.
“Everybody has their own interpretation” is a device of the devil, who has done a marvelous job at keeping the church off balance. “Everybody has their own interpretation” is the first line of defense against sound doctrinal teaching. “Everybody has their own interpretation” is the rationalization that makes it ok not to listen to God’s Word. God is true, holy, and he’s going to judge. There’s only one way to interpret the Word of God, and every other way is wrong, so it behooves us to get it right.
The church is God’s royal priesthood(I Peter 2:9). We are ambassadors for Christ, and he has committed to us the word of reconciliation of the world to God(II Cor 5:18--20). The sad reality is that the one church of God is divided; and not just over trivial things like, padded pews, or the kind of music. The church is divided over major and decisive issues that concern the glory of God, eternal life or damnation, and living in love:
What is required for salvation?
Is Jesus Lord, or is He the Lord’s son?
Did Jesus pay it all, or did he just show the way?
Is salvation full and free, or a second chance?
Do you have to pray for forgiveness for each sin?
What if you die before you have a chance to be baptized?
Are we to love, or are we to avoid touching unclean things?
Does God require the sacraments?
Is it ok to drink wine, or not?
How much of our wealth are we to pour in to the church?
How many wives is a man supposed to have?
Is marriage forever, or only ‘til death do us part?
Just how powerful is sin to destroy us?
Are the charismatic gifts for us to profit from?
Are miracles for us to perform at our will?
Does God work on us to make us like Him?
Does the Gospel lay a heavier burden on us, or give us rest?
Are we servants, or are we free?
Are christians supposed to be super humans?
Is the Word of God for us to know and understand, or do we have to ask a priest?
Which version of the Bible is correct?
Should we place our faith in the church, or God?
Should we be taught by centuries of tradition, or by God’s Word?
Can the divided church come to unity based on the Word of God?
Why can’t we stop for a reality check to see if our church is in line with the Word of God? What is so wrong with being aligned with God’s will (God’s word IS his will) even if it means giving up your lofty position in the presbytery?
Can we forego leaving passages of scripture un-interpreted, either writing them off as being figurative, or settling for an intuitive interpretation and calling it the “inner witness of the Holy Ghost“? Why can’t we get it right by letting Yehovah teach us by having us study the Word of God down the last hard question? There’s only one way to interpret the Word of God, and every other way is wrong.
The divided church, believing the wrong doctrine can cause people to go to hell. The divided church having the wrong values can cause people to be alone and desolate, having nothing but Jesus (oh yeah, and, of course, our lip service and prayers). The divided church, holding back on sound doctrine could only grieve the Holy Spirit.
The divided church takes away the Glory of the latter house, and reduces it to separate ambiguous, laughable disarray of squabbling, judgmental, and pious social clubs, filled with Christians, who know only what’s been taught to them by their conflicting churches, all of which claim to teach the TRUE way of God, or claim that no one can know the will of God. The divided church repels many intelligent people who don’t want anything to do with a religion whose people can’t even get its story straight.
Believing and acting on the Word of God will bring us into a whole different world of love and glory. Souls will be saved as they are drawn by the Holy Spirit to the one church of God, whose mission is to TEACH ALL NATIONS. The Word of God will actually be the standard for doctrine, and revered as being the authority for mankind.
In the name of Yehoshua HaMashiach, and in His Love,
Wesley Speck, nobody but His Servant.
