Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that sometimes wonders what happened to the people who asked it for directions.
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Last year, I watched a new documentary on the infamous crime boss John Gotti. It was called “Get Gotti.”
What impressed me was that Gotti was tried and acquitted in three high-profile trials.
As the documentary continued, the reason became clear. It was because the FBI and the OCTF (Organized Crime Task Force) worked independently, and even in competition with each other.
These law enforcement organizations were so “sectarian” that they refused to share key information with one another.
Each organization wanted the glory of nailing the Teflon Don, so they worked solo, apart from the other organizations, even though they had the same goal.
It was only after they laid their egos down and began working together that their combined efforts were successful in forever putting Gotti away.
As I was observing this, I couldn’t help but think that the Gotti case is an apt metaphor for the body of Christ today.
The various segments of the body, be they Charismatic, Pentecostal, NeoReformed, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical Free, Church of Christ (you name it), so often refuse to cooperate, cross-pollinate, and co-labor with those outside their circles for the advance of God’s kingdom.
The result: the enemy of our souls continues to wreak havoc in the world.
Imagine. What would happen if every Christian leader would drop their sword and take down their fence and learn to work together with their fellow brethren across denominational and “movement” lines?
A simple step would be to invite other servants of God outside their camps to speak in their conferences and events. (This has happened over the last 15 years, but on a very small scale.)
The problem I’m describing is precisely why I wrote the book ReGrace, which explores how Christians who disagree with each other on doctrinal and political points can still maintain the unity of the body of Christ.
Paul’s words haven’t been erased from the Bible:
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
~ Ephesians 4:3-6
ReGrace uses examples of church history, some of which are hilarious, to make this point.
(If you’ve not read the book and you’re wondering about the issues of false doctrine and theological error, that subject is addressed in the book along with episode #11 of The Insurgence Podcast: “The Mark of a True Disciple, False Teachers, Heresy, and Jesus’ Humor”) which is at the very bottom of the ReGrace book page linked above.)
The unity of the body of Christ is no small thing. It was something for which our Lord prayed shortly before His death and resurrection.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
~ John 17:20-23
Notice that Jesus wasn’t just praying for the Twelve; He was also praying for you and me and every other believer. This is plain from His words in verse 20: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their [the Twelve’s] message.” That’s all of us.
I hope for the day when more of God’s servants will begin cooperating with that prayer.
Until next Thursday,
fv
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