And We Will Worship Together

 

And We Will Worship Together

     Is ecumenical such an ugly word?  When money builds the sheepfold walls, divisions in the American church are the only answered outcome.  We cannot worship both God and mammon.  Both command our service.  Hypocritical, two-faced, hollow church goers do the Sunday thing and wonder why their souls still reek of violence towards their fellow man.  What is inside is disgusting and rears its head at stressful intersections of life and desires.

     What is the fix?  We find ourselves trapped in spiritual yearnings cramped by religious structure telling us how the Way is supposed to be.  We find our path dictated by an invisible hand of conformity to tradition.  The Sunday experience warms the ice little which only solidifies in front of the T.V. set later that afternoon.  There’s got to be another way.

     “Grandma would roll over in her grave if she knew you went to that church.  We’ve always been Lutheran.  I don’t understand what you see in that Catholic Bible study.  You know those Pentecostals don’t know their Bible.  Presbyterian council is good, but they are so frozen to their pews!”

     When labels like these are the front man in the band and Jesus is forced to sing background vocals, God’s hand is restricted.  In the Revelation, He tells us what His authority requires.  Possessor of the seven stars, He commissions and brings an abatement to those churches not fulfilling its calling as given by vision.  He causes increase and decrease as He does the nations under His hand.

     Are we safe?  Maybe that is the question we should ask our leadership.  Are we a shelter?  The world seeks to grind us down.  Can individuals run to us for help?  With addiction threatening and divorce breaking, do we have the tools to intercede?  God forbid the Sunday interactions to be Teflon.  A hospital to the saints and tabernacle tent of meeting for God, the gathered souls serve two purposes.

     When health is put first, churches link their hands in ministry.  No congregation displays its expertise in all areas.  The Ministry puts the Gospel out through loving relationships concerned with the person’s entire being.  “Be warm and filled brother!”  If we preach and neglect immediate need, those around wonder of our intentions.  A community of believers is necessary provide the net and successive steps to recovery.  The Light draws and we can partner to guide the one needing to the appropriate church excelling.

     When it is all about the needs of the person and not about their financial contribution, love flows.  The ecumenical calling goes forth to outsource ministries without a threat to the main group.  If fear were permitted to tailor the church, a mother hen would guard the doors with jealousy.  Communication is necessary and a sharing of commodities reflects Acts 2.

     So the vision is:

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

     Many specialized ministries and united under the head of Christ.  Inordinate divisions have no place in the kingdom.  Ecumenical agreement in works means we lift Jesus’ name high.  And that is cooperate worship.

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