 At the beginning of Saint Paul’s letter to his beloved friend and colleague Titus, Paul greets Titus this way, “To Titus, my true son in our common faith.” This reminds me of one of the amazing characteristics of the Church of Jesus Christ; we are so diverse, yet we all have something in common.
As I reflect on the universal church I am lead to visions of Christians of all types of people, cultures, nations, and languages, all unique in their own way, yet all a part of one body that transcends boundaries, oceans, and governments. You see, the church is a beautifully diverse group, reaching from one end of the globe to the next. From Catholics to Pentecostals, from Wesleyans to Baptists, we all have our differences, yet we all have something in common.
Even within each of our local churches there are differences. In fact, outwardly one might wonder what we as a body of people have in common; being made up of so many different people, with different vocations, and different hobbies. Yet there is something in common that draws us together.
Outwardly it would seem that Paul and Titus, two close friends and fellow workers, had little in common. Paul was Jewish, growing up within strict Jewish customs, and a Roman citizen. Although we don’t know too much about Titus, we do know that he was a gentile, and that he was Greek. What would a Jewish Roman Citizen have to do with a gentile Greek? An odd traveling pair, wouldn’t you say. Not if you look at the common thread that held them together. This thread is what Paul mentions in his greeting, Faith. A faith that celebrated their differences while holding them together around what was important, Jesus Christ.
This is our common thread, our faith in Jesus Christ. It is what brings us together to worship; what drives us to care for each other, and what should lead us to care for and share life with those who don’t have this faith yet. In reality, it is the common thread of all humanity, although some have not found it yet, or don’t accept it. It is the common thread of all creation, that “God so loved the world, He sent his son…”.
Because we are people of habit and comfort we sometimes get too caught up in the contrast of styles, personalities, and people, and don’t recognize the common thread that holds us together, and is the very reason we are here.
As we celebrate and sometimes struggle with diversity, never forget that there is one common story to all of history; one common thread, God’s redeeming love, and one common purpose, to spread it to all we know.
The Picture ("needle and thread") was used with permission from the artist, Kathy Keler.Labels: Christianity, church, common faith, diversity, unity |
