The prayer of a righteous man avails much… (James 5:16)
… may they be one, as we are one… (Jesus in John 17:22)
If one is to believe that Jesus is righteous, and that the prayers of a righteous man avails much, and that Jesus prayed that we all be one, then can we believe that his prayer is already answered? Instead of believing that this unity is something that needs to be worked for, is it possible to be certain that it is already a reality that needs admission and maintenance:
… make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit… (Ephesians 4:3)
This is not to be interpreted that unity is something to achieve. Rather, it is a reality to be believed, made manifest, and lived by.
Those who draw the lines of division differentiating between people are diametrically opposed to the spirit of Jesus.
We are one. There is unity. Let’s work from there.
My name is David Hayward, and I am the nakedpastor. I am a graffiti artist on the walls of religion.
Perfectly said. God doesn’t draw the lines. People do.
I can rest in knowing that the perceived and projected differences are not solid; not from God.
Wow. Well said.
Wow. I asked the question of the first blog I started being involved with about 5 years ago. Why doesn’t God answer the prayers of his own son? Never in all my years of chewing on this question have I found an answer until today.
Maybe a bit of when the pupil is ready the teacher appears. We ARE one! Now get out there and act like it…..what a concept!
Hooray!!!
Beautiful. I think Jn 17 is the clearest description of Spirit (and spiritual unity) found in the NT.
The Apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth asks THE seminal question — “Has Christ been divided?” — as the opening salvo in his description and defense of the church as the body of Christ. To divide a body is to kill it.
Awesome, awesome, awesome word! Did I say it was awesome?!
We are already one…in Christ.
Not by anything that WE have done, or will do.
This unity applies to those the Father gave him only, right?
I like the direction, but may I ask then what about Ephesians 4? Would love to hear your thoughts on that..”needing apostles,prophets,evangelists etc UNTIL we come into the unity of the faith”..?
The transformation happens with the renewal of the mind. Each of us has the Christ within…we are already one in the Spirit. Our minds need to come to the realization that this is so. @Lisa…thats what I think Paul was talking about…come into it…quit letting your mind cause divisions. I love the phrase the Eastern religions use…Namaste…I greet you in that place where we both touch God.
I would agree with preacherlady.
The existence of something doesn’t equal the knowledge of that existence.
So, God has made us one . . . each individual needs to learn and know this, resulting in complete, conscious unity. (IMHO)
Alice,
I think of you often.
Hope you are doing well.
jerry [fishon]
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interesting, god has already made us 1 but we are not 1 … i remember saying we would never be 1 and lost friends …
hey jerry. i think of you often too, and have missed you. nice to “see” you again.
thanks eleas.
Hi Jerry! I’ll e-mail you.
It is already a reality. beautiful.
Fantastic! This applies to non-theists as well, perhaps even more.
Wonderful post.
thanks TGM… i take that as a compliment. i try to write so that theists and non-theists can both appreciate it… so thanks!
@NP,
You’re welcome
I sometimes find it a challenge to look for commonality and to act accordingly, but I see it as being extremely important. To inculcate the “us vs them” mentality is really destructive, and needlessly so.
fishon? Did I see fishon?!
Awesome! Welcome back!
@ Steve Martin,
Hey buddy, hope you’re doing well.
Had a quick question on your comment:
“We are already one…in Christ.
Not by anything that WE have done, or will do.”
Might not some people interpret that as absolving us as individuals of any responsibility for playing nice with others? Just wondered what your thoughts were on that.
Thanks,
TGM