Rebuilding Unity

By Alvin C. Rose, Jr.

[Page 126]

     Christ came to the earth to rebuild the unity of believers. He sought to destroy all barriers which man had set up dividing himself, be it racial (Jew-Gentiles), or social (male-female), or political (bond-free), or religious (Jewish sects-other sects). Jehovah was the God of ALL, and He wanted the allegiance of His entire creation, not merely a certain class of His "chosen people." This is why He sent Himself in the form of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, to reveal Himself to all nations.

     A failure to do this was on the mind of Christ the night before He was to die. His "Farewell Prayer" is recorded in chapter seventeen of John's Gospel. Notice His concern for this oneness, this unity. "Holy Father, keep them in Your name,...that they may be ONE, even as We are" (verse 11). "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on Me through their word; that they may all be one...that the world may believe that You did send Me" (verses 20-21).

     With this unity comes not only a belief in God but a concern for others. "Love your neighbor as yourself," said the founder of Christianity. And He was concerned. This concern was not limited to middle-class Jews, but to rich hypocrites (the Pharisees), tax-collectors (Matthew), and public adulterers (the woman in John 8). Most good "church people" of 1968 ignore everyone who is not on their level racially, socially, intellectually, and religiously.

     But any plea for Christian unity is met with interchurch and interdenominational fighting and backbiting. While we bicker over petty differences, thousands are dying each day, never hearing of Jesus Christ. A real change--the Good Book calls it conversion--must take place before anybody is going to "take the world for Christ" (we have yet to take Tennessee and Texas). The world is waiting; God is able; we must not fail.

     Editor's Note: Alvin C. Rose, Jr., is a student in David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tennessee).