Not What, But Who Unites Us Christians

We Christians talk a good talk, but in reality we don't walk a good walk. We say we believe that Christ is in charge of God's entire house. He is the Son of God after all. In other words, He is the Groom and the church is His bride. He is also the Head and we believers are His body. That makes us all members of the same body. And so, we are members one of the other. It means we are brothers and sisters, members of the same family. Right?

Sounds good, but . . . there are such little matters as race, ethnicity, nationality, language, tradition, culture, sex, education and generation that keep getting in the way. And they are often not little matters. Consider those matters that separate and divide us.

• I'm white, but you're black (race)
• I'm German, but you're French (ethnicity)
• I speak English, but you speak Spanish (language)
• I'm American, but you're Chinese (nationality)
• I prefer classical European style music, but you only relate to African (culture)
• I have had the privilege of a post-graduate education, but you can barely read (education)
• I was born before World War II, but you were born at the end of the 20th century (generation)

How shall we overcome these differences? Is it even possible? Listen to the writer to the Hebrews. He uses the Greek word oikos (translated as "house" in English) to refer to the household of God. With this word he refers to that great host of mankind rescued from slavery to sin and death by the work of Christ. The previous chapter ends by emphasizing that Christ is the high priest who offered himself as the all atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. That's why he is able to help all who are enslaved by the fear of death.

THEREFORE, holy brothers (or brothers and sisters), you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses--as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV

What brings us together? The answer is not what, but WHO! What we share, says the writer, is our heavenly calling. When we get down to the bottom of it, we are all human, descendants of Adam and Eve. And Jesus united Himself to all of us when He was born of the Virgin Mary by the wondrous working of the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who binds us into one body. It is Jesus who makes us members of one another. It is Jesus who has made Himself one with those of us who are black, brown, tan, white, yellow, red, with eyes and hair and complexions of all colors. It is Jesus who is Chinese, Malaysian, Russian, Swedish, Mexican, American and every other nationality. Jesus speaks to and in every culture. He puts the children on His lap and humbles the most highly educated with the mysteries and wonders of His creation.

And Jesus did it by doing for us all what we cannot and never shall be able to do for ourselves. He earned for us forgiveness and absolution for all our sins. He is the "builder of a house" with far more honor than the house itself, as the Hebrews writer says.

If you are interested in the so-called ecumenical movement I commend you. We Christians must be ready to acknowledge that we are members of the same household, brothers and sisters one of the other. BUT, please, please, let us not forget what unites us. As I noted above, it is not what, but WHO! Who is Jesus? What did He do upon Calvary's cross? What does that mean for you, for me? What is it that we share because Jesus? Blind Helen Howarth Lemmel put it beautifully when she wrote,

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

• O soul, are you weary and troubled?
  No light in the darkness you see?
  There’s light for a look at the Savior,
  And life more abundant and free.

Chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

• Through death into life everlasting
  He passed, and we follow Him there;
  O’er us sin no more hath dominion
  For more than conqu’rors we are! - Chorus

• His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
  Believe Him and all will be well;
  Then go to a world that is dying,
  His perfect salvation to tell! - Chorus

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/645#ixzz2fky20JIJ