FEATURE ARTICLE
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Sunday, March 21, 2021 |
[email protected] Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
�John said to Jesus, �Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn�t in our group.� 50 But Jesus said, �Don�t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you�. Lk 9:49-50 od help the bride of Christ, the church and the body of Christ today is my sincere prayer. Can you imagine the fragmentation, cacophony, disunity that the church today is engulfed in? Imagine the disunity among the Pentecostals, evangelicals, mainline churches. Imagine the fragmentation within the Anglicans alone. Everyone proposes and alludes to their doctrines and believes they have the monopoly of God. We criticize one another as if that is the criterial for making heaven.
The Holy Spirit through the scripture above reminds me that it�s important that we stop majoring in minors and we should focus on the major part of this gospel. The name of Jesus! I want to remind us of two scriptures: �Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in 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 you all� Eph 4:3-6 Here�s another one: �For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man. 1 Cor 3:3-5. Whereas it is practically impossible for us to have one denomination, it is important that we stop drumming the drum of division amongst ourselves. The major effect of disunity in the church is that we turn potential believers away. Scarcely can you hear a sermon without the minister condemning, disparaging the other church. Can you imagine the confusion of a young believer when he sees 4 - 5 if not more churches in one building ? Are there not enough churches that young upcoming minister of God can team up with ! Must we continue with this independent churches that are built to fan and finance individuals empires?
Jesus says stop criticizing one another . Have the same goal, pursue one purpose . This is what I believe the Holy Spirit is saying to the church today with respect to unity of purpose . Some ways to achieve this noble objective.
Conclusion: We have more to unite us in Christ than to divide us. Divided we will fall united we will stand. Let us be united in using the name of Jesus to propagate and proclaim the gospel. When you see another man not in your denomination or using your method to preach the gospel Jesus says: Don�t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you�. Lk 9:49-50. Shalom!
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