Unity

The church is shunning the issue of race relations in today's sanctimonious society. The church is not assertive in pursuing the answer to the distress we are facing due to the stench of prejudice. Prejudice has undermined the church's effort to evangelize the world and threatens to do the same in the years 2000. There are scores of people who make a profession of faith, however, the number of true conversions are just not there, in spite of mass evangelistic efforts that are made each year. As the return of Jesus fast approaches, we who are true believers must live the truth. It is time for the church to be the united family of God that it so boldly proclaims to be. The gospel should and must be declared as our eyes and hearts are toward heaven, not as we blindly and selfishly seek after the things of this world. The one thing in this earth that has the ability to bring about perpetual change to our morally decayed and malignant society is the TRUTH. However, truth alone will not convert the world. Therefore, if truth is to have meaning and effect, it must be depicted to the world in LOVE. In other words, we must have true concern and compassion for those to whom we preach. We must serve those to whom we are sent. Not simply giving them food and raiment which is very needful for the body. We must walk in the ability, the authority, and the ever abiding Spirit of God, healing the sick, casting out devils demonstrating that the kingdom of heaven has come down to lost humanity. And if the power of God is to be demonstrated, we as the people of God must obey God and honor one another.

"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another (1John:4:7-11[7]There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.[8]For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.[9]The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)[10]Jesus answered and said unto unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.[11]The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?)."

We should ask ourselves, why is it that the Leaders of our Church can not come together as one for the purpose of carrying out the will of God? Is it so difficult to see a body of believers being lead by men who have absolutely given themselves to one another as well as to God? May we come to the foot of the cross, and there lay down all ambition and pride at the feet of Christ our Lord, the only one who deserves and has preeminence in all things.

What is it going to take in order for the leadership to come together? Will we continue to pretend that all is well with the churches that we have been given charge over? May God open our eyes so that we might finally see that it has been we who call ourselves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who have fallen short of the will of God and are responsible for what the church has become in our generation.

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.

For we are God's fellow-workers; you are God's field, God's building.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,

his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Corinthians:3:1-15[1]And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.[2]I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able [to bear it]: nay, not even now are ye able;[3]for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?[4]For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?[5]What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.[6]I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.[7]So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.[8]Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.[9]For we are God`s fellow-workers: ye are God`s husbandry, God`s building.[10]According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.[11]For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.[12]But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;[13]each man`s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man`s work of what sort it is.[14]If any man`s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.[15]If any man`s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.).

Jamie Thompson