I Corinthians says we are one body in Christ. Jesus said in John: 17:20-23 I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me, because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness and give the godless world evidence
that you’ve sent me and loved them in the same way you’ve loved me.
I work with many ministries and charities and have walked as a Christian for 55 years. I can tell you from watching over time that when we as a community of Christ come together with one mind and one purpose there is a real move of God. But, when we stay in our little fiefdoms, inside our own walls every Sunday, not a whole lot happens in the body of Christ or in the world as a whole. Oh, there are good things each group of believers meeting in a certain building does, but so much more can be done when we work together as one body.
There is a song that comes from Scripture when Jesus said in John 13:35, “If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. … By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. Catholic priest Fr. Peter Scholtes wrote “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” in the 1960s. Scholtes wrote the song in 1966 while serving at St. Brendan’s parish in Chicago. He wrote the song when he couldn’t find a suitable song for his youth choir’s ecumenical and interracial events. I think he was spot on and that the church needed to be reminded that we ARE one in the spirit! We must look to our brothers and sisters and work together for the good of our own communities.
Having love is quintessential in the foundation of our faith and what God commands. For those who need to be reminded, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
A single warrior sent into battle will surely die, but when we come together in numbers, we are strong and will be victorious against the assignments of the enemy.
According to Church Answers it is estimated that the U.S. has 350,000 Christian church congregations. A Pew Research Center study shows that as of 2020, about 64% (over 17,500,000,000) of Americans identify as Christian. Fifty years ago, that number was 90%. For sake of argument, we will let that statistic sit and speak for itself.
Do you know your neighboring pastors and charities? How can you work together and possibly not duplicate efforts but expand ministries in your communities by uplifting each other and helping each other out?
Michael G. Carnes – With a 43-year career as an author and media executive, he has served as a director and producer for both Christian and non-Christian media, his experience includes 55 years as a Christian, learning from exceptional teachers and preachers all over the world and focuses his attention on helping others help others.
