I Confess... State Flags, Hashtags, and Political Brags Are Not My Bag.

Unity.  A word with great potential.  Unity is something to be desired isn’t it?    

Unity is EVERYWHERE! People find unity with others of similar dispositions and common desires.  There is a unity among seekers in the BLM movement looking to rectify some real, and some perceived, injustices.  There’s a unity between men and women whose intent is to honor a heritage with historical value and lessons we need to remember and never repeat, when they want to preserve a state flag.  And there is unity among some to which that same flag represents oppression and hate.  There's unity among members of the Westborough Baptist Church.  You can find unity among members of this church, or that denomination.  Unity found in political parties can cause blind loyalty to candidates that may sometimes be downright dangerous for a nation.  There is even unity found within the ranks of ISIS.  So yes, unity is indeed a word with great potential… for good or for ill.  When chaos and destruction are the motives, unity is a perilous thing.  Unity is only beneficial with a guiding principle that leads to the building of life and health. 

  
The Christ called for unity of heart, mind, and purpose all the time... God’s.   How do we define that?  How do we quantify what that unity looks like?  Jesus put it this way, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 34-35 NKJV) 

  
Unity in Christ begins with a realization that disciples of Christ, imperfect, fallen, and failing beings that they tend to be, have received forgiveness in response to their repentance over their sin and past transgressions.  And that is because they have received the LOVE of their Creator.  Unity in that love doesn’t try to equivocate what sin is ACTUAL sin… or try to redefine what sin is or isn't… or deny that sin even exists.  That unity, purchased by Jesus’ gracious sacrifice, simply proclaims the truth that we are all fallen and are all in need of a Savior.  We are all needing repentance and restoration.  Unity in Christian hearts seeks to distance people from the sin-sickness and evil that separate the world from God, while standing firm in the Gospel proclamation of God’s ultimate victory and creation’s redemption.  Unity in Christ’s purposes gives a clear goal as we seek first the Kingdom of God, and then live in the authentic loving and virtuous character that it orders in our hearts and living when we find it. (Even if we are still works in progress.)

So please, seek unity!  As long as it is a unity that is life affirming.  Be unified in the search for an end to divisions… in all of the areas that our souls are divided from the healing presence of God, Christ, and Holy Spirit.  Become a peace maker and a bridge builder and not a destroyer.  By all means build friendships, and relationships, and communities!  So long as they are never built at the expense of your relationship with God and through the neglecting or ignoring of Godly principles.  And daily, work to develop authentic character in Christ's presence and example.  That will allow you to realize that state flags, hashtags and political brags are never worth more loyalty than the call of the Gospel.  They are never owed a place of higher importance than the call of Grace that seeks to unify human hearts that may sometimes honestly disagree and may even be wrong; but that are all hearts joined by the common need for salvation at the end of the day.

The flag that should stir the most passion in us should always be the Banner of Christ.  The sharing of our opinions should always be tempered by the proclamations of the Word himself... #NotMyWillButThineLord might be a good place to start.  And the governing body that should receive our most ardent support and loyal attention is the Holy Trinity.   

Beloved, you can stand firm in your convictions without swimming in the sewage of worldly outrage and mudslinging.  Our words have impact.  GOD'S words change lives.  Why not share them first and let the Holy Spirit do the heavy lifting?  Who knows?  You may just end up answering a call to unity that has an eternal reach... and convince some others to come along too.  

Your Servant in Christ,

     Chris                     

John 17: 20-26 -- "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”