United...

With all of the chaos of the past political cycle, I will admit to feeling some anxiety about the divisiveness in the country regarding race, sexuality and religion. There have been debates, protests and an ongoing dialogue of hate and violence being spewed from both sides of the aisle. There are conversations that are dividing people even on social media that has lead to Facebook friends un-friending each other because of differing opinions. As Americans, we fully embrace the rights afforded to us, ALL OF US, under the Constitution, and by these principles we are all different but equal under the law. Knowing that we live in a great country with freedom to speak up for what we believe, the freedom to practice religion without any threat as well as the freedom to cast our votes for the candidate of our choosing should be enough to unite us rather than divide us. I have grown weary of the disagreements, debates and meanness of some of the rhetoric that I hear daily so I have been thinking a lot about unity and how people like you and me can change our behavior and attitudes to help ease the divisions and offer hope and peace.

The word unity means being united or joined together for one cause or idea or even purpose. Given where we live, the most obvious example of this unity are the “United” States of America, in which 50 states are joined together under one free government.  We, as Americans, are free to unite in a house of worship whether in a church, mosque or temple anywhere in this great land. Each week, parishioners gather to sing songs of praise, read scripture, tithes their offerings, and listen to the Word of God preached from the pulpit.  Throughout this time of song and praise, the faithful also join together in prayer. Sundays feel special because during the week, Christians spend time in the privacy of their homes, alone with God, meditating and praying for their needs and seek their own forgiveness. We have been taught that God is personal and that he loves and cares for each of us and through his death and resurrection, we have been absolved of our sins. While I am grateful for a Savior who loves and forgives me, this single-mindedness can lead to an insulated and self-focused faith. On that one-day a week, we gather as a community in love and support of each other for an hour or two. What I have come to realize is that when we gather in worship, we are a community of people, who, for a couple of hours, “see others” who may be like us but may come from very different circumstances yet it gives us an opportunity to be together to worship one God.
 
In the early Christian church, these new Christ followers were united in building a faith-filled community under the leadership of the Apostle Paul who encouraged them to treat each other with the love of Christ:
 
“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Phil 2
 
When we pray in community, we are united in our prayers for one another, the larger community and the world. When we sing with each other, we are praising God in one voice supporting the whole church family in whatever they are feeling or experiencing at the time.  All of us face battles everyday whether depression, addiction, abuse, death, which often drives us inward with a lot of time to self-reflect. The churches are filled with hurting people who feel unworthy and alone. When stepping into a sanctuary, you are stepping into a community of believers who join with you in your hurt and lift you up with their prayers and praise. At some point, everyone has experienced pain, sorrow, or guilt, and yet we can come together, standing side-by-side to focus our thoughts and praises on the God hope and second chances. In worship, we are no longer focused on ourselves and our relationship with a personal God, but with the God who opens his arms wide inviting all of us to come and rest in his grace and peace regardless of our brokenness.
 
Paul’s words encourage us to step outside of ourselves, in humility and see others in their need and serve them. In this divisive time, can we set aside what we want, what we need and reach out to our neighbor and find some common ground rather than dwell on what divides us. It was in a gathering of believers, who came to share their hurts, habits and hang ups and support one another, that I was reminded of a the words of the author C. S. Lewis; “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” As Americans, what can we do to stop the hate, fear, self-interest and all that divides us and see beyond ourselves to what our neighbor’s need? As Christians, how do we show the same compassion and sympathy, as the early church believers, to encourage people with a love that unites us together? A good place to start might be to pray the same words the Lord taught his disciples to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.