The body of Christ on planet earth is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Its peace is broken into pieces — tens of thousands of them called denominations and nondenominational churches that are scattered around the world. Yet, Jesus prayed that all of His followers be one so that the world will know that He has been sent from God the Father. (John 17:21) Where can we find oneness among Christ-followers?

We can’t find oneness in doctrinal discussions. We can’t find it in denominational (or nondenominational) religious pride. We can find it in the passivity of sermon hearing. We can find it in faithfulness to a particular Christian theological system or in a human controlled worship gathering. And we surely can’t find unity in religion infested politics.

Unity in the body of Christ is found when believers humbly and openly connect heart-to-heart and begin to experience the leading of the Spirit (Romans 8:14) together. It is found when they start to see Jesus living and working in and through one another as “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) It is discovered when they start gathering to teach one another, to exhort each other, and to encourage one another (and to obey the 50+ other one another verses in the New Testament).

Unity in Christ is experienced when Christians commence to openly and expressively care about one another. (John 13:34) It is found when they share their testimonies with each other. (Revelation 12:11) It is found when they surrender their heart to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and begin to humbly receive and share the gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

How Jesus wants His followers to be one in His Spirit! Why do we disappoint Him? Why do we allow our religious traditions (Mark 7:13) to quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and to grieve (Ephesians 4:30) the Spirit and to keep our unity trapped in tens of thousands of religious pieces? (Ephesians 4:3)

I’ve found unity with other Christ-followers from multitudes of different Christian “streams,” “tribes,” and/or denominations — but not through religious organizations or formalized church services or doctrinal agreement. I’ve only found it in heart-to-heart connection with individual believers as we open up and share with one another what the Spirit puts on our heart.

We can do this one-to-one, in small groups, or in larger gatherings with an open mic. When we open up and let other people see Christ working in each other, we will suddenly recognize the glorious Light of our hidden unity in the Spirit. Let’s stop hiding God’s inner Light. Let’s put it on a lamp stand and let it shine everywhere we go! (Matthew 5:15)

I woke up this morning with this poem and announcement forming in my mind:

Open sharing,
People caring.
Spirit leading,
Love succeeding.
Hearts connecting,
Christ reflecting.

Experience this
Each Saturday
@ 8:30 am.
@ Chile Burrito
330 Franklin Rd.
Brentwood, TN.