Many Christians hold to the view that there is perfect unity in Christianity. They say that the Body of Christ is made up of all true, born again, believers who have accepted Christ by faith. Yet this is an invisible body. While it is true no one Christian body holds all believers we must see that what Jesus was saying in John 17 was that unity should be visible.

           Paul spoke to the believers in Corinth and told them they should not have divisions. At that time they were choosing to follow certain teachers. It is not too unlike today, although today it is on a grand scale! Many will not say they are following a person, but they are following the teachings people of their faith believe. Obviously Paul felt there should be visible unity.

I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people,
that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos,"
or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

           There are differences among Christians as to how one shows visible Christianity. Obviously we cannot agree amongst ourselves what it means to be a Christian. To those in historical churches and high Protestant churches a Christian is a baptized member of a church who obeys Christ's commands. To the Evangelical it is the born again believer who has accepted Jesus as Personal Lord and Savior. The Pentecostal says the true Christian has been baptized in the Holy Spirit and proves this by speaking in tongues. Still others say that Christianity is reflected in love and tolerance.

           There is so much conflict within Christianity it seems we have become a religious Humpty Dumpty that only God will be able to put together. Strong opinions exist among us and we are so determined to hang on to our own personal or group doctrines and prejudices. The worst is the declaration that other Christians are not Christians for not believing or practicing as we. The first thing we must do is not judge our brother or sister by our own doctrines. We would not want others to do the same to us.

           Despite our differences most major Christian faiths believe in the articles of the Apostles Creed.

Apostles' Creed

"I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Ed., p 49-50)

           There is a visible unity within Christianity. Two thousand years ago Jesus asked Simon, the apostle, who he said Jesus was. Simon told him, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Many say this declaration was what Jesus meant by "rock" when he said to him, "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". (Matthew 16) Clearly Jesus was speaking to Peter as the Rock. History, with it's list of Popes which goes back to Peter, shows the Church believed Jesus intended this to be true.

           We know there are types in the Old Testament which show forth what will be in the New. Twice God changed the name of men. Genesis 17 tells of God changing he name of Abram to Abraham. He told him he would be the father of a host of nations. In Genesis 32 we see the story of Jacob who wrestled with God and was given the name Israel. He became the father of the twelve tribes. In the New Testament Jesus (the Second Person of the Trinity) changed the name of Simon to Peter. Peter became the first Pope (meaning father) of the Church.

           This means that there is a visible sign of unity for the world. They see the Bishop of Rome and they know he is the leader of world Christianity (although many know he does not speak for all who call themselves Christian). Should believers one day unite it will give us more credibility to those who do not understand our doctrinal divisions. In the meantime it is our love which must tell the rest of the story to unbelievers.





           Despite any differences we may have we know we are to be recognized by our love. We are to love both each other and the unbeliever. To say we are to love our neighbor and then say the unbeliever is not our neighbor misses the point. If those who do not believe do not receive love from us how are they to know us? If they do not know us, how can they know Jesus? And why would they accept the Jesus we know if we do not show forth his love, forgiveness, and mercy?

           Keep in mind the impact one small nun had on a country of mostly non-Christians. Mother Theresa of Calcutta was not welcome when she went to India to serve the "poorest of the poor." Yet she and her nuns stayed and served the sick, the destitute, the abandoned. Her impact was enormous both in India and throughout the world. She demonstrated what one person, showing forth the love of Jesus, could do to spread the Gospel. May God help each of us to do our part to show the love of Jesus to the world.



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last updated 1/18/08