Photo by James Trenda on Unsplash
Have you ever forgotten that your vehicle was on and tried starting it? In older vehicles you would hear grinding noises as if the gears were expressing confusion at your error. Newer vehicles are more advanced and have start/stop buttons so that in such a case the engine may safely stop.
Christians believe Jesus the Christ, the chief cornerstone, is fully human and also fully God. Jesus is the same as every other human being, with the exception of sinning, especially in the obvious reality of having only one body. Jesus taught that whoever (emphasis mine) eats His flesh by eating blessed bread and whoever (emphasis mine) drinks His blood by drinking blessed wine receives eternal life and lives forever.[1] St. Paul made the application that people become members of the Body of Christ whenever they receive blessed bread and wine.[2]
The Apostle Paul rhetorically proved the Body of Christ cannot be divided[3]. We know certain Christians have declared and decided through the centuries that we are divided with each other and that we are living in disunity.
What can it mean that the Body of Christ cannot be divided but some Christians believe we are divided from each other in His one body? It seems like the feet are insisting that the body has no arms or the eyes are ignoring that the hands have fingers even though all members are present.[4]
Perhaps one reason we are unable to achieve Christian unity is because we are not receiving what Jesus has already done, continues to do and will do.
Our vehicle was started long ago by our loving God and it will always be running.
Remembering this, we Christians can focus on moving forward together in this life journey. Our ministry efforts can joyously and lovingly be steered towards agreements, joint statements, common practices, and also in celebrating our diverse traditions as various options for people to choose from who are desiring to follow the One, True God today.
[1] John 6.22-59; emphasis on v.54
[2] Romans 12.5, 1 Corinthians 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12.2; Ephesians. 4.12
[3] 1 Corinthians 1.13
[4] Referencing 1 Corinthians 12.1-30
Cornerstone Unites 