Oneness In Faith

Over the past few weeks we have been reflecting on spiritual gifts-What they are,  who they come from and how they impact the body of Christ.

Last week Pastor Monica shared from 1 Corinthians that our differing spiritual gifts are to be celebrated, because different gifts are needed to Continue the building of God’s Kingdom. Today I want elaborate on this call- the call of loving one another despite our different gifts.

Seeing a variety of gifts among a community of people is expected. God has created each of us to reflect his different gifts attributes,  and has done so intentionally.  think we would all agree that working together using our different gifts is a good thing; though at times it may be frustrating. Situations where tasks and plans are not carried out in the way that we would have them completed, or we don’t agree on the best course of action.

In my experience, the real challenge is when we see other members of the body express their faith in a way that is different from our own; or when we encounter other followers of the way who hold to principles that differ from our own. It can cause confusion for us; possibly lead us to question our own faith and beliefs. Or perhaps it leads us to separate others from ourselves; to place them in the category of “other”. 

In the faith community of my teenage years, Whenever it appeared that someone was deviating from the status quo of accepted beliefs,  I would hear folks say things such as “That person isn’t really saved”, or “They must not really be a believer if they hold to that idea”. I want to make clear that I’m not advocating that examining our hearts is unnecessary or that we should not hold people of faith to any standards. Jesus was all about holding the mirror up to people and asking them to look at their own reflection.  The question we need to ask ourselves is “does my life reflect the good that I am for, or does it reflect more in the direction of who or what I am against.” 

In our New Testament reading today, The writer of Ephesians urges believers to “live a life worthy of the calling…with humanity, gentleness and patience, bearing with each other in love, maintain the unity of the spirit.” Unity of the spirit- we hear this and our mind goes to the Holy Spirit, the 3rd member of the trinity.

However, there is a long tradition in the western church of interpreting the understanding of unity as “the unity that is created within the sphere of the human spirit”. The human spirit- the life force within each of us; the source that awakens us to the world around us; the place within us that knows love, joy, sorrow and pain.

If God created us in his image then the human spirit comes from the spirit of God; the same spirit that breathed life into our lungs. If we believe that God created each person in his image then we all share in a connection of our human spirit. We are tied to one another because we are flesh and bone living together in the human experience.

*{Slide 1}* Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, describes the bond between humans, called Ubuntu, in his book “No Future Without Forgiveness”, where he shares his experience of walking alongside the people of South Africa in reconciliation for Apartheid.

I’d like to read his words, as I fear my own would not do it justice.

* Read page 31*  *{Slides 2, 3, 4, 5}*

Desmond Tutu speaks to the deeper connection that we share as humans, and reveals a deeper understanding of what “unity of the spirit” means.

Throughout the scriptures we see echoes of what it means to be in sync with the spirit of God and how living in the spirit promotes unity to one another.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored all rejoice together with it”.  And In Matthew 12, Jesus says to those around him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

As we gather here this morning, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is also gathering. Leaders and delegates from across the United States, Congo, Philippines, Estonia, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Great Britain. Each church, each region, expresses their faith through practices and liturgies that honor their cultures and their devotion to Christ.  And while they all have different customs, practices and beliefs, they are united as people of faith, joined together by their call to live and lead others in the way of Christ and trust in the goodness of God.  They work towards a common good for all members of the body.

A few years back, I was teaching a class at a summer camp for teens. The class was to help campers explore what their Christian faith encompasses for them, and help them form a language for expressing their faith. We talked about how there many, many denominations and sub denominations of within the Christian faith, and yet if we peel back the layers, the foundation is the same for all.  A foundation that says God Almighty is our creator and sustainer; Jesus, the son of God, came to earth to show us that people could live a life of peace and grace; The Holy Spirit, promised through Christ, lives in each of us so that we may carry out the work of God’s Kingdom- freeing the oppressed, defending the defenseless and extending a hand of compassion and love. 

Unity in the spirit does not mean that we will all express the same beliefs in one monotone voice; but we join our different voices together in harmony.  Unity in the spirit does not allow space to tear down one another, nor does it feel threatened by different ideas. Rather, unity in the spirit means that we honor the humanity in one another;  We seek out the spirit of God in our brother and sister; unity means that we live in the manner and spirit of Jesus- showing love and grace to one another, and using our different gifts to benefit the whole community and bring the Kingdom of God closer to the here and now.

I’d like to close this time with a poem written and recited by Maya Angelou. It’s a poem that expresses human individuality and also reminds us of our common ties.

May our bond as humans and our bond as believers move us to be people of love, compassion and peace.

New Testament Lesson: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Gospel Lesson: Luke 6:27-36
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, February 24 ~ Saturday, March 2

Sunday: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” Ephesians 4:1.  Consider that you we are called to live as disciples of Jesus, whose grace is abundant.  

Monday:  “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” Ephesians 4:2.  Where is God calling you to bear in love a brother or sister in Christ?  

Tuesday: “Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesian 4: 3. Pray for those who disagree with you, that you might know peace in Christ in your relationship together. 
 
Wednesday:  “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,” Ephesians 4: 4.  Unity is not uniformity. Consider how you might serve God alongside your fellow believers while affirming distinction.  

Thursday:  “one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Ephesians 4:5.  Give thanks to God today for your baptism in which you became a new creation – named, claimed, and beloved of God.  

Friday:  “one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:6.  Pray for God’s way to be know to all the world.  

Saturday: “But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Ephesians 4:7.   Affirm the gift you see in someone else today.