We Are One

As I look around the city, I see a number of churches on every street corner practically. The denominations vary, but the mission actually is one--with several components. William Barnwell, a canon missioner in the Episcopal Church, has written that every church has four areas of mission: developing a relationship with God that is personal, working to ensure adequate fellowship and community within the church, evangelizing outside the church, and supporting social ministries relating to the poor and needy. Each church must decide upon its particular focus. Some of the so-called "low" churches tend to stress evangelism, and some of the "high" churches focus on social ministries.

I think we tend to emphasize the differences often among our churches rather than what unites us. I like the idea that Barnwell has delineated; it reminds me of the Scriptures that speak of the individual spiritual gifts among the body of people. Some are blessed with "hand" gifts and actively seek to work in the social ministries, some receive "heart" gifts and are especially concerned with evangelizing, and some have "head" gifts to put together church programs that promote community.

The one aspect, of course, that we all agree upon is that we believe in one God. For Christians, we further believe in one Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isn't it time for us to solidify our likenesses instead of our differences?