Leave the differences

As I was unfolding the extent of racism in the church I could see that still some folks were looking at it as an ethnic thing, but it really goes beyond ethnicity and goes into our way of life or beliefs. A group of people that believes their way or their understanding of things is more dominant or more correct than someone elses, dispite the fact none have any real incorrectness, displays some type of racism by definition. Cliques in the church can be more accurately described as racial entities as they each feel their beliefs are what should be practiced. Racism may be a strong word but by Webster, it is accurate and in some instances we need to address these things of the church strongly to bring about the need to increase unity instead of division. The unchurched that visit see this first hand and it most definatley turns them away. I know one person that said it like this; "Why would I want to go there when you guys can't even get along." A real eye opener, because it wasn't like we didn't get along we were just openly uncanny with our different ways of thinking.

Jehu and Jehonadab of the Old Testament were two similar individuals. They worshipped different, but they worshipped the same God, the Almighty God. One day they realized they needed to set aside their differences when in the presence of the Almighty God because it just didn't matter as long as they were both worshipping God Almighty, the Sovereign Lord. In 2 Kings 10:15 (KJV) it reads like this, " And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. "

These two men realized the time had come where HOW they worshipped was irrelevent as long as they both worshipped the One True God. They set aside their differences and fellowshipped as brothers of God's children. That's what we need to strive for in the church today. Sure we can find a church to accommodate our various styles, but we need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit and to where He leads us and then with the mind of Christ put aside any differences and worship any way we can. "Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?"

Blessings