Love Alike
I came across a news source this morning that surprised me...and it takes a lot to surprise me these days! Apparently there was a "controversy" over a call to prayer a couple of weeks ago. Specifically, Rev. Rick Warren, most known for "The Purpose Driven Life," sent out a tweet that called people to pray for the Catholic Cardinals as they selected a new Pope. Many people "favorited" his tweet, and others re-tweeted it. But others attacked it and him. Some even called his call to prayer a "tragedy," and took the opportunity to once again call the Catholic church all sorts of names.
Obviously, Protestants have differences of opinion with both Roman Catholics and also with Orthodox Christians. We differ in our beliefs about communion and the role of Mary, to name just a couple. Our very title has the word "protest" in it. The Reformation was a significant event in the life of the Church, a dividing line in so many ways. And yet, regardless of what someone's feelings are toward the Catholic church, what's "tragic" about praying for them and for their future?
I had much the same experience. When Pope Francis was elected, I put up a status on Facebook sending my prayers, and was greeted with a response asking why I was praying for him, didn't I hate him? Huh? I was told it was a "church history joke," but in my mind, there wasn't anything funny about it. Actually, it was rather hurtful that someone would think that of me. But when I read the article about Warren this morning, I understood a little bit.
You see, we think we've got God figured out, and we believe that God can only work through our own expression of Christianity. Every other expression is, therefore, wrong. As I read the article, I came to realize the same folks who were attacking Rev. Warren would do the same to me and most other mainline Protestants—because we're willing to work and serve and worship with folks we disagree with doctrinally and theologically. If we share a common cause, let's put our strength together and see it happen. At our church, we've even been working with the city government and others who have a shared commitment to feeding children in our community. We do it in the name of Christ and for his sake.
I can't help but wonder how much of the cause of Christ has been slowed down or even held back because those who claim his name aren't willing to put small things aside and work together at evangelizing the world. When will we learn, as John Wesley spoke of so long ago, to hold onto the core of Christianity, but to let the peripheral things not consume us? (Perhaps part of our issue is we've made peripheral things central.) I got a glimpse of this many years ago, when a group of pastors met weekly for prayer together. We didn't all agree, but we did all love each other. Methodist, Nazarene, Evangelical Free, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Independent Christian, Lutheran, even Catholic...together, we found a common core that caused us to work and serve and love together...for the cause of Christ.
We may not all agree alike, Wesley says, but may we not all love alike? What might happen in this world if we did?
Obviously, Protestants have differences of opinion with both Roman Catholics and also with Orthodox Christians. We differ in our beliefs about communion and the role of Mary, to name just a couple. Our very title has the word "protest" in it. The Reformation was a significant event in the life of the Church, a dividing line in so many ways. And yet, regardless of what someone's feelings are toward the Catholic church, what's "tragic" about praying for them and for their future?
I had much the same experience. When Pope Francis was elected, I put up a status on Facebook sending my prayers, and was greeted with a response asking why I was praying for him, didn't I hate him? Huh? I was told it was a "church history joke," but in my mind, there wasn't anything funny about it. Actually, it was rather hurtful that someone would think that of me. But when I read the article about Warren this morning, I understood a little bit.
You see, we think we've got God figured out, and we believe that God can only work through our own expression of Christianity. Every other expression is, therefore, wrong. As I read the article, I came to realize the same folks who were attacking Rev. Warren would do the same to me and most other mainline Protestants—because we're willing to work and serve and worship with folks we disagree with doctrinally and theologically. If we share a common cause, let's put our strength together and see it happen. At our church, we've even been working with the city government and others who have a shared commitment to feeding children in our community. We do it in the name of Christ and for his sake.
I can't help but wonder how much of the cause of Christ has been slowed down or even held back because those who claim his name aren't willing to put small things aside and work together at evangelizing the world. When will we learn, as John Wesley spoke of so long ago, to hold onto the core of Christianity, but to let the peripheral things not consume us? (Perhaps part of our issue is we've made peripheral things central.) I got a glimpse of this many years ago, when a group of pastors met weekly for prayer together. We didn't all agree, but we did all love each other. Methodist, Nazarene, Evangelical Free, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Independent Christian, Lutheran, even Catholic...together, we found a common core that caused us to work and serve and love together...for the cause of Christ.
We may not all agree alike, Wesley says, but may we not all love alike? What might happen in this world if we did?
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