by Rev. Wayne Sova
Someone once asked me, "What religion are you?" I immediately responded saying, "I am a Christian!" Again, he said, "No, that's not what I want to know; what religion are you?" I knew then that his question and my answer were proverbial forks in the road that is littered with breakdowns in communication. He sought from me not my religion, but rather, in a sectarian way, desiredto know whether I was Roman Catholic or Protestant. However, my intention was to claim my faith based upon my commitment to Jesus Chirst in union with every believer who confesses Him as Lord and Savior.
As Christians, the Apostle Paul reminds us that to be the Church, we are the Body of Christ with Christ, the Head. There is but one body to whom we belong, for in the words of the glorious hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" we sing, "We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity." Regretfully, we are not truly 'one' as the Church of Jesus Christ is separated doctrinally and communally. I wonder what our Lord would say to His Church regarding the divisions that break His Body into sectarian pieces. As Christians, let our prayers be raised to heal the brokenness and restore the unity of our faith. Let us rediscover that 'tie that binds hearts in Christian love', so that when the Lord comes again, His Church will be whole.
Someone once asked me, "What religion are you?" I immediately responded saying, "I am a Christian!" Again, he said, "No, that's not what I want to know; what religion are you?" I knew then that his question and my answer were proverbial forks in the road that is littered with breakdowns in communication. He sought from me not my religion, but rather, in a sectarian way, desiredto know whether I was Roman Catholic or Protestant. However, my intention was to claim my faith based upon my commitment to Jesus Chirst in union with every believer who confesses Him as Lord and Savior.
As Christians, the Apostle Paul reminds us that to be the Church, we are the Body of Christ with Christ, the Head. There is but one body to whom we belong, for in the words of the glorious hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" we sing, "We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity." Regretfully, we are not truly 'one' as the Church of Jesus Christ is separated doctrinally and communally. I wonder what our Lord would say to His Church regarding the divisions that break His Body into sectarian pieces. As Christians, let our prayers be raised to heal the brokenness and restore the unity of our faith. Let us rediscover that 'tie that binds hearts in Christian love', so that when the Lord comes again, His Church will be whole.
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