One Body, One Spirit, One Faith

There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

I am very excited by the community worship service that is occurring on

Sunday, October 9th at 10:00 am in the Post Elementary School Auditorium.  Part of my excitement comes from our being able to welcome the pastors from Africa that have had such a profound influence on those who have gone on mission trips there.  Having been to Africa earlier in my own life and knowing the commitment to God that so many there have I am looking forward to the word that Pastor Petey is bringing to us.

But I am almost as excited that a number of churches from here in town are giving up their own Sunday morning worship services to come together for this great day of worship.  Paul spends a lot of his time in the letters that make up our New Testament arguing for unity among those who believe.  Jesus prays that we will all be one as a part of His High Priestly Prayer in John 17. 

There is even a growing movement among scholars to see in the letter to Romans not an explication of Paul’s understanding of the gospel but rather an in depth argument for the unity of the church that is in Rome.  The unity that Paul is speaking of is not an institutional unity but rather a unity of heart, soul, and Spirit; that is to say, we are all members of Christ’s one body. 

That does not mean that there is no diversity among us.  God has given each one of us a ministry to do, a goal to accomplish, a gift to share, and an emphasis that is for our own lives.  But overall and through all is our loyalty to God our Father through Jesus Christ the Son.  This unity is accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit and is held together by God’s love flowing through us.

My fear is that many people will look at October 9th as a Sunday off.  I am afraid that they will miss all the great things God has planned for us on that morning.  I cannot imagine so many churches willing to set aside their Sunday morning services in order to be at one place to hear God’s Word spoken and there not be the presence of the Lord there with us.  And where God is great things will always happen.  If nothing else, it has been awhile since many of us have experienced the unity of God’s church physically present. 

I know the Lord will be there!  What about you?