Jan. 11, 2015

Background Scripture: John 17:1-26

Devotional Reading: John 15:1-11

Sometimes I have to deal with scripture passages that stir in me the disturbing suspicion there are a considerable number of these passages in which the meaning seems so crystal-clear, yet they are obviously ignored by many of us who promise to do His will. I refer not to the Medieval question of “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin,” but something much more essential to the Gospel.

For example: What does Jesus say we should do about our enemies? How does he tell us we ought to respond to someone who strikes us on the cheek or compels us to walk a mile with him or her? And how should we feel and act toward those people?

We all know the answers to those questions. Jesus pointedly and unambiguously tells us that we are to love our enemies (Mt. 5:44), “turn the other cheek” (Mt. 5:9) and walk an extra mile (Mt. 5:41). Yet, we have demonstrated in so many ways that we do not “love” our enemies, that we would probably end up in a fight if someone struck us and would certainly resist going one city block out of our way.

Our usual reactions in these circumstances are clearly and literally contrary to Jesus’ imperatives. These are not simply “suggestions.”

So, if we recognize the obvious conflict with what Jesus teaches and what we do, how do we get away with it? Does it not apply to us?

God is not “the old woman who lived in a shoe, who had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.” True prayer is putting ourselves at God’s disposal, not the other way around.

Completely one

I raise this issue because there is a clear statement in John 17: 20-24 of what Jesus wants for us: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.

“As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me.”

So, Jesus prays his followers may be one; that the “oneness” of the disciples shall be as the oneness of Jesus and the Father; and that this “oneness” will be seen by the world as the disciples, Jesus and the Father are in complete unity. In other words, the unity of Christians will be a means to bring others into this same unity, to win others to the Good News.

Jesus does not say so, but there is the implication that failure to present this unity to the world is disobedient and disastrous to his mission. If Christians are shocked by the divisions within Islam, why are we not shocked and shamed by our own? As Christians we also have within our own history things of which we should be ashamed.

You see where this is going, don’t you? We have not achieved anything close to the unity for which Jesus prays. In fact, the obvious trend in Christianity is not unity, but disunity. We may not be noticing it, but the world is.

In my own denomination, the United Methodist Church (note the term: ”United”), many of us fear a split. The issue: Some UMC pastors have performed weddings for couples that are homosexual. One pastor was stripped of his ordination because he performed a wedding for his son and another man. Those who called for his ouster were legally correct in saying that his act was contrary to UMC legislation stating that homosexuality is contrary to Christian teaching.

But should not dividing the Body of Christ also be contrary to Christian teaching? I think it is.

Agreeing to disagree

The possibility of church schism on this issue is very real. I have not read of anyone on either side who has cited Jesus’ High-Priestly Prayer in John 17 or raised the issue of Christian disunity and dividing the Body of Christ as a definite repudiation of Jesus’ prayer and his will for the followers of The Way. Or that schism itself is a serious sin against God’s will.

If for the sake of our own presumed spiritual purity we believe we must separate ourselves from those with whom we disagree, then we elevate our own supposed sanctity above the will of Christ.

We may be disturbed by what other Christians say and do, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to live and work peacefully in the same congregation and denomination. Jesus’ position against divorce is clearly stated, but we accept divorced people in most congregations, don’t we?

I believe death sentences are a unequivocal violation of the teachings of Jesus. Should I leave the Methodist church on that score or work to divide it on that issue? I may disagree on this or that, but should that keep me from sharing the Communion bread and cup with those who think differently?

There are people in my Sunday school class with whom I disagree – and who disagree with me – but all of us would do our best to help each other despite those disagreements. Our oneness in Christ holds us together.

And that was and is Christ’s will and prayer for those who follow him. More often than not, churches divide, not by seeking and following the will of Christ, but by provoking sinful injury to His Body.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Those with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.