16 April 2019

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J17 MINISTRIES

Harmony Hub

When Christian Unity Meets American Patriotism

As the wife of an Air Force pilot and the mother of a Marine and an Army veteran, believe me, I know a thing or two about American patriotism. We are American patriots. My family takes pride in this great country, and I’m equally proud that all of my men have served here. However, as I’ve branched out in ministry to serve impoverished women and children in other less fortunate countries, I’ve been faced on more than one occasion with a brand of patriotism that I believe has infiltrated our Christian mission.

As I’ve approached churches and individuals for financial aid or help in any way with the schools I run in Africa, I am met with statements like, “I only donate to American charities” or “Let us know when you open a school like this in the U.S. We’ll donate then.”

Now, I might understand these kinds of answers from non-believers, but these are by-and-large coming from my Christian brothers and sisters. Consequently, I’m left scratching my head and wondering what’s going on. When did we begin to confuse our American pride with our Christian unity? The church is called to unity, but the entire chapter of John 17 uses the word, “world,” fifteen times when speaking of Christ’s mission to His church. There is no mention of ethnicity or residency, only our call to be one in Him in the world. (John 17:18)

Certainly, we are to serve our city and our nation as we move through the Great Commission, and the unity with which we do this is undeniably essential. We are one, as our Savior declares in John 17:11, and only as one can we complete that which the Lord has called us to complete. The mission, however, is to go into all the nations and share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), serving the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, and the sick as we move in unity. (Matthew 25:35-36) One does not exist to the detriment of the other. We are unified so that we can complete what Christ commands.

My prayer is that all of us, every Christian everywhere, link spiritual arms in perfect Christ-inspired unity, and then in that unified front, we serve those less fortunate. My perfect prayer is that we see our Christian mission and our Christian unity as having no racial, ethnic, or citizenship barriers. Christ said we are one, and inasmuch as this is true, I pray that we serve each other in the unified love of a Savior, a Savior who loved all the world so much that He died so that those who would come to Him would have life everlasting (John:3:16).

Harmony Hub Contributor:

Dr. Deb Waterbury (J17 Ministries board member), debwaterbury.com

Collaboration Corner

A View from the Side Door

As I served at last week’s Pastor Prayer Summit, I felt as if I were standing on holy ground. I witnessed a sacred gathering of 40 Christian leaders in our community, drawing together for three days on Mt. Lemmon. Each committed to setting apart this time for God by reserving those days on his/her calendar. Each regarded the time as sacred, intentionally protecting it from the countless demands of leadership. Each prepared his/her heart to hear from God. I expect that He was truly blessed by this act of worship.

From the side door where three other ladies and I carried in food and drinks to sustain them through those three days, I watched these men and women worship in unity. Together, they praised and glorified our Father through singing, praying, and reading God’s Word. It was a sight to behold! I was reminded of Romans 8:38-39 that says, nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature…not even denominational lines…not even styles of worship…not even language. If none of these things can separate us from the love of God, do we really let them separate us from love for each other? Not these brothers and sisters.

Their time in prayer was beautiful. With arms draped over shoulders, some with heads bowed in reverence, others with faces looking up in anticipation, prayers were offered. These weren’t generic prayers. These were passionate prayers filled with tears and empathy on another’s behalf. Needs within families were shared and received by hearts that far too well know and experience the struggles and sacrifices that come with ministry. Prayers by co-laborers covered the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each other. Encouragement was shared in reminding each other of God’s faithfulness in walking this narrow road with us. Hearts were refreshed, and hearts were reconciled. The genuine love and concern for one another was tangible. What a sight to behold! As I watched, I wondered if the scene before me looked anything like the times when the disciples prayed together. Surely their unity was just as beautiful as the unity I witnessed.

And then came prayers for this dusty city filled with image bearers…some lost…some found. With hands outstretched and lifted high, our brothers and sisters prayed for these souls to know God. They prayed for a city that honors and follows His ways. For the sake of all image bearers, they begged God to establish unity among His children. Jesus tells us that through such unity the world will know Him. Through our unity, Tucson can know Him. In our unity, this city can belong to God. Wouldn’t that be a sight to behold?

Thank you, brothers and sisters, for the beautiful picture you provided me during those three days on Mt. Lemmon. From the side door, I witnessed the unity that can overwhelm our city. I witnessed the unity that Jesus says can change the world. Glory!

Collaboration Corner Contributor:

Karen Henley, J17 Ministries

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