England Journal: Day 5

St. Chad’s:

Our van overflowed with students, as we drove up to St. Chad’s we watched the school children walk by in their uniforms, pressed navy pants and ties according to their grade and house. Our students poured out of our van and gathered at the oversized wooden doors. The gothic arch of the door was echoed in the brick details several times over. Two rings hung as handles. Our English friend and guide, Ste, found a skeleton key and with a jiggle and specific turn, finessed a side door open. Even after having spent Sunday morning worshiping at St. Oswald’s my spirit was not ready for the understated grandure of St. Chad’s. I had grown up in large churches, I’m used to large spaces. Yet, somehow in this small church felt lofty, and etherial. A relatively young church considering the history of England, St. Chad’s was built in 1950’s. Everything had a purpose and also everything was beautiful. The side naves were lit with leaded clear glass and the back wall boasted three imposing arched windows. The wooden pews were flooded with light and the blue, gold and red painted oragan pipe popped against the natural tones of brick and wood. The sanctuary became our living room for the week. A place to eat our sandwiches, prepare for ministry, and welcome families from the community. We decorated for kids church and helped to share parables with the children. Each student bonded with the youngsters who were equally enamored by their respective accents.

The last night before our travel home, we gathered at St. Chad’s for an evening service. The warmth of conversation and the Holy Spirit filled the room. As we found our way to the pews, the Americans were prayed for and welcomed. Our students led worship and I stood up at the alter to help sing. Smiling back at me were the beautiful souls we had the pleasure of becoming family with that week. I saw each face and thought of their story. Leaders from each ministry, their families, children and their parents, all sang together. Knowing we were united in the same gospel (and language… sort of) even when we would be across the globe from each other.

How sweet a thought, that when our worship services end, theirs begins, giving continuous glory directed toward the one who deserves it. He sustained the Gospel through kingdoms, wars, and persecutions. I’d love to explore this thought more. Psalm 133 says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” and Galatians 3: 26-29 says “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

This Galatians passage can very easily be misunderstood in our androgonous and competative culture. Pointing to previously divided factions, allows Paul to explain how Christ levels the playing feild. "All are one in Christ Jesus" shows that no matter what your past or present situation, there is a new stronger bond to other believers that superseeds any previous divider. So no matter the divider; nationality, politics, or socio-economic levels do not matter, we are one in Christ Jesus.

Brit or American, the unity was palpable. The United States is a beautiful melting pot, however, I fear we have separated ourselves by denominations, race, and worship styles to unknowingly miss experiencing true unity.

Jesus in his 'High Priestly Prayer' in John 17 prays for us, the future generations that would believe in him through the disciples. Then he prays for our unity, so that we would be a picture of the unity in the Trinity. "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17: 20-21

What is the goal of unity? It isn't to just feel good about our fellowship with other believers, although that is a nice perk. Jesus says the goal right in his prayer. "So that the world may believe!" Our unity within the body of Christ is for evangelistic purposes, we become a picture of the Godhead, all working together, living with one God given purpose, to bring others to Christ. Brothers and sisters, how are we doing?

John 17:1–26 (ESV)

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

²since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

³And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

⁴I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

⁶“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

⁷Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.

⁸For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

⁹I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

¹¹And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

¹²While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

¹³But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

¹⁵I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

¹⁸As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

¹⁹And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

²¹that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

²²The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

²³I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

²⁶I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Psalm 133:1–3 (ESV)

¹Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

²It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

³It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Galatians 3:26–29 (ESV)

²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

TGP questions:

Read John 17, Psalm 133 and Galatians 3:26-29: What do you learn about God from these passages?

What would unity in the body of Christ look like in this day and age?

What are some aspects of our culture that blocks unity?

Do you see unity in your local Church?

How can you foster unity in the body of Christ between churches in your town?

Take some time to journal and pray for unity for the purpose of bringing others to Christ.

Note:

If you would like to know more about the ministry that leads our trips check out the Ministry Friends tab and click on the GEM icon.

If you would like to financially support my upcoming mission trip to Middlebrough, England, check out this link https://immanuelbaptist.managedmissions.com/Donations/Donate/83878