How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! – Psalm 133:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (August 7, 2013): Psalm 133 & 134

Paul Simon released his hit album “Still Crazy After All These Years” in 1975. The album hit number one on the Billboard 200 during December of that same year. The album is probably best known for the “Simon and Garfunkel” reunion track “My Little Town.” But the album also contained a quirky little love song entitled “You’re Kind.” The strange love song told the story of a lover expressing all the reasons why his beloved was special – all of the things that she had made a difference in his life. But in the final verse he also explains the reason why he has to leave her.  

I like to sleep with the window open
And you keep the window closed
So goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

Paul Simon may have hit on one of the eternal truths of life. Sometimes it does not seem to matter how much we agree with each other – the way that we are divided seems to be more important to us.

I am convinced that the Christian Church agrees with each other much more than we disagree. In fact, I think that for most churches the things that we agree on is in excess of 90% of our total beliefs – and it is probably much higher.  And yet we find ourselves divided.

I was recently asked about my views on baptism. My friend and I attend different churches, but the churches are in the same denomination. My view on baptism is that I prefer baptism by immersion. But baptism is too important to be held for only those that are not afraid of water. And so for those that fear immersion, I will find another way to make sure that they get baptized. My friend was immersion only – and as far as he was concerned that was the only proper denominational stance. But the reality is that we are both saying exactly the same thing – baptism is important. We are just attacking the question from different directions. And yet I also know that it is exactly these kinds of arguments that have divided churches - and denominations.

The church is fractured. There is no use in denying it. We seem to be going in so many different directions. But we are also united by a Cross. And sometimes a fractured cross that catches a million shards of light and casts it off in a million different directions is the most beautiful thing we could ever see. The psalmist seemed to understand exactly that. How beautiful it is when God’s people live in unity – or maybe beautiful it is when believers discover the unity that has always been theirs.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 135