Psalm 133:2 - Behold how good and how pleasant it it for brethren to dwell together in unity.
A few days ago I heard a song that captured my attention. I downloaded it on my phone and have not been able to stop listening to it. The song is called "City on a Hill" by Casting Crowns. The song tells of a city on hill that once was a light to all around. But something happened: As human nature would have it the inhabitants of the city began to quarrel. The poets accused the dancers of being shallow and the soldiers said the poets were weak. The old wouldn't listen to the young, etc. Before long all of the city's inhabitants ran away.
What captured me most about the song is that it is not particularly religious. It does not identify a church or a secular organization. Why? Because the problem is universal. We all have to contend with our own pride in bowing our wills to another. For most of us it goes against our nature to admit that someone else's idea might be a better one.
I know that we hear a lot about universalism these days. I am the first one to take a stand and say that there are some things I will not compromise on. But the majority or our problems don't come from having to compromise with people from without. We usally have the hardest time within our own circles. That means that the biggest contentions are usually with the ones we love the most such as our family or fellow church members. It may even be those we work around everyday.
You see, just like in the song, it is easy to forget the "why" of what we do. If we are not careful the smallest things become the biggest dividing points. I have seen dear friends become enemies over what color the walls should be painted. I think this is the real message of unity. If it is worth taking a stand over, then by all means be adamant. But if we take a second look, I think we'll find that most of the things we divide over weren't really as big as we thought they were.
Whether it be at church, on my job, or at home, I am important. But I am no more important than the other members. We all have a role to play. If it comes down to it, I'd rather see ugly paint on the walls than close the doors. So I leave you with a question: Is our mission important enough to us to keep going, whatever the cost? If not, maybe we need a fresh look at what we are doing with our lives.
Thoughtfully Yours,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
