Thoughts on life's experiences and God's nature by Robby Hyche…

My thoughts on Christian Unity from Ephesians 4:1-3

Some scholars think that this is an early creedal saying that the early church would have chanted or recited together.  It’s hard to tell, but it is certainly formulaic in its construction. He uses “one” seven times: One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father – over all, through all, in all.

Paul instructs the Ephesians and so by proxy he asserts to us that we should have a united Church. His argument goes something like this, “Since there is one Body in Jesus Christ through salvation which came about by the Spirit…and since through this same Spirit there can only be one hope in our Lord… and since we come to that Lord through Faith… and since there is one Baptism… and since all this came from the mind of the one Father and God who is over all THEN we must have only one Church!”

That sounds great. For a long time we had one physical church. A few years ago Luther and some other guys pretty much knocked that in the head and now we have what would seem to be a church-divided instead of a church-united. Is this what Paul wanted: a single World Religion?

Some have tried since the 1400’s to bring about unity in the church. Most notably and recently there was the World Council of Churches formed in 1948. Some of our brothers in Christ rant and rail against that organization claiming it will become the one world religion headed by the Anti-Christ. I really don’t know and I’m not here to talk about that.

I want to talk about this Unity thing.  I must tell you, this is an embarrassing set of verses to me (and probably to many others). Our churches are not united. There are schisms, jealousy, and problems within churches and between denominations.

But before you think me noble, understand that I need to change first. I am trying to build a Singles group here at FBC Trussville and there is wonderful church nearby which is doing a amazing job of reaching people in our area (and really all over Birmingham). More than once I have seen some of our folks go over there. A couple of times I have said to myself, “I just can’t compete with them.” In that moment the Body of Christ is divided. But this same scenario plays out every day in Christendom.

Last Sunday our church hosted a “Community wide Thanksgiving” event. We do this every year. Each year we have a good group of people present. But I can’t help but think it could be bigger if we really believed what Paul wrote.

Now slow down…I get it. Not coming to a Community Thanksgiving Service will not (by itself) make or break unity in Trussville.  I just think we need to begin practicing this unity-thing because one day we will all be together in heaven and we need to begin to learn to love each other now. I hope next year our own people will support this event better not because it is an “FBCT” thing but because it goes to the Unity of the Body. And I hope that other churches in our area will realize that this is truly not about FBCT but it’s about learning to love each other and do what Paul is instructing here.

When I look at Paul’s message in Ephesians, I have to ask myself, “How is this possible?” There is little unity in the Church today. I’m not sure I help with this very much but I hope I try. I can get over the neurosis I have with the other church I mentioned and support them (as hard as it is for my pride to do that – hmm that’s where that humility thing comes into play). I can be patient with myself and others as they work out their salvation in their own way (forbearance and patience). I can gently deal with those who come from other denominational backgrounds, or those who have no religious background, and seek to understand them (gentleness). And I can pray that God will make the other churches in my area successful (that’s the love thing). When I really love someone, I want them to succeed even if it means my demise.

But in reality, I don’t think it will be my demise. God will use various means to work in me, through me, and to others and I believe I will continue to learn what I need to learn from the situation. God has a group of people He wants me (and our little “c” church) to reach that the other (little “c”) church cannot. That’s the mystery of the gospel of God and His plan for the “Big C” Church.

Paul recognizes the potential of the problem with division which is why he says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” It’s going to be a problem and that’s why we need to make the effort to keep the unity of the body.

I sincerely hope that you read this post not as a slam to anyone but a confession of my own need to become more loving and useful to the entire Body of Christ – and not just my church here in Truss-vegas.

What can you do to promote Unity in the Body of Christ this Thanksgiving?

Hey, read my guest blog on Lifeway’s Threadsmedia at:  http://threadsmedia.com/life/article/the-holy-spirits-touch/

Last weekend we didn’t “trick or treat.”  We do that sometimes but since Tracey was working I really didn’t want to get out with the kids.  I am not much into Halloween.  Think about what we do when we send our kids to other people homes asking for candy. How about we just take our kids to the homes of people we don’t know and let them serve them dinner?  Are you okay with that?  Halloween is about the same thing! I’m kidding of course; and most people try to take their kids to folks they know. But it still freaks me out. So I bribed my kids and bought them a big bag of candy and a movie. We stayed at home with th lights off and watched Monsters v. Aliens.

Here’s where I am: There is so much depressing stuff in the world that I don’t want to see more depressing stuff in the way of gore, blood, vampires, ghosts, and the like.  If folks would dress up like one kid I heard about who was going as a blind SEC official – complete with dark-glasses and a cane – then I would be into that.  That’s creative and funny.  Or the costume I saw this week on TV one morning where a guy was dressed in black and had a big stamp on his chest: he was “black mail.” HA! But no, we have to go all weird and gory for some reason. I saw a few Tweets from friends complaining that grown people were trying to scare their 3 year old kids. Again, why do we do this?

Why does the land of fulfilled dreams, the land who does so much for the world in healthcare, space exploration, and freedom participate in such a grotesque “holiday?” By the way, please don’t say “Happy Halloween” to me. Shouldn’t you say “Evil Halloween” or “Gory Halloween” or “Bloody Halloween” or “Depressing Halloween”? “Happy Halloween” is just the opposite of what we should say. “Happy Halloween” would be like saying, “I hope nothing happens to you.” It negates it. Anyway, I digress.

Some cultures have this sort of festival where we try to somehow make fun of death, or at least parody the dead.  Could it be that on one level we think that if we mock death that we will somehow overcome it? Death is a very obstinate and inevitable enemy.  Unless Jesus comes back, Death will be our ultimate enemy and will win 100% of the time. None of us want to die. If we say we’re ready to die and go to heaven, then we’re told we may have depression and need to see a Psychiatrist or Counselor. No one wants that! So we mock death. “HA, I’m not scared of you!” Or, we make fun of it. “It’s not as bad as all that.” Or, we look it in the face and try to mimic it in an unhealthy way which is why I think we end up with some of the demented crimes and movies that we see.

Perhaps this is why suicide and abortion tend to be on the increase. If we can somehow take control of our worst enemy then perhaps we can have one more measure of control over our lives. Control gives us the illusion of freedom. We think that if we can control something then we must have our freedom, right? Sure, suicide allows us to control when death happens, but death still happens. Just like the government gives us another date in which to file our taxes. We still have to pay them but we think that we have beaten the system if we can claim more deductions, delay payment, or sneak around and cheat. But as sure as death, so we must also pay our taxes. Just ask Nicholas Cage!

Laughter and levity or else anger and imitation: that’s the world’s approach to death. We either ignore the reality altogether or dive into it completely. Neither is the right solution to our dilemma with death. Remember, control only gives us an illusion of freedom. But we’re really not free. Death comes.  This much is true.

There is a phrase – “dead man walking.” It has been around for a long time.  It was first used in literature in 1899 by Thomas Hardy in a poem by the same name.  The term is used to refer to someone awaiting execution on death row. I don’t know if Hardy heard it at a prison or something. But the idea is that the person – and the other wards around listening – is (are) dead already.  They are simply awaiting the actual death.

In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul would say that describes us before we’re saved – we’re dead people walking around – zombies in a sense.

So the fact is we cannot really mock death. Set in the context in which I just described it, Halloween is a poor attack against such a formidable foe.  I guess that’s why I never have liked it very much.  It is much like a pagan’s offering of grain to the gods of rain, hoping they’ll send more so they can have more food.  Or it’s like a witch-doctors dance to please the spirits.

No, we need something more real. Death is a real enemy and we need a real solution.

In a sense, we do need to face death.  Not embrace it, but face it. Death will reign over you someday. One day you will close your eyes and they’ll stay closed. Strangers will pour over your things. Perhaps they will go through your pockets for loose change. Others will decide if you will be buried or not. Even though we laugh at death each year and put on our little pagan parties to flaunt our detest in the eyes of Death, he does not sour. He leans back in his chair and lets the parties go on. He does not laugh or mock. He does not even bat an eye. He simply checks his watch and grins. Because he knows that one day he will win.

On that day, Death will laugh only one time.  He will laugh at you.

For the Christian, his laugh is not much more than a smirk, however, because Jesus will step in and place his hand on you and take your soul with Him.

Realize for the Christian that Death’s victory is short-lived. Death gives way to a greater victory in our lives as Paul demonstrates for us in Ephesians chapter 2.

The context of Ephesians helps us in this way. Paul reminded us in chapter 1 that Jesus was dead but God raised him from the dead.  And even though we are part of the “walking dead,” God will raise us too!

So, again, I ask: If we’re Christians and we know Death is defeated, then why do we celebrate this day each year?