Five-Day Forecast 11-20-19
November 20, 2019
I overheard a conversation the other day that garnered my attention.
A person from out of town was remarking about how a decade’s long community Thanksgiving service was poised to lose one of its church partners. As it turns out, one of the longtime collaborating churches had recently called a pastor who was not interested in participating in the ecumenical church service. The new pastor was claiming that the differences between the partnering churches were too significant to overlook. The pastor was being praised for “standing on principle.”
This pastor’s decision got me thinking. What would it take to drive us from the table of communion and fellowship with other churches?
Undoubtedly you’ve heard the story of the woman who died and went to heaven. Upon arriving at the Pearly Gates, the new addition was given a tour of heaven. Saint Peter ushered her to one area and introduced her to a group of faithful residents.
“These are the Pentecostals,” he remarked as they both admired their expressive worship behavior.
Farther beyond the Pentecostals, they came upon a group of individuals who were seated around a table studying the Bible and having a thoughtful conversation.
“These are the Presbyterians,” said Saint Peter.
Off to the right, a collection of people was genuflecting and making the sign of the cross.
Saint Peter nodded and said, “Yes, these here are the Roman Catholics.”
As the two made their way forward, Saint Peter put his arm out in front of the woman and stopped her before she could draw close to the group of people they were approaching.
“Shhhh,” he warned her. “Be very quiet. These are the Baptists. They believe they’re the only ones here.”
Few of us would deny that the churches in our community, region, and nation have any number of disagreements and differences between them. Our Baptist tradition serves as an excellent illustration of this truth. Baptist churches, as autonomous, congregational assemblies, differ widely from one another and occupy any number of places on the theological spectrum. The particular flavor of our own church tradition respects and values each particular congregation’s call to believe and to practice their faith as they feel led. We may have significant disagreements in our understanding of scripture and the role of the church, but we honor one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
History will tell us that we learned this from the early church. The Acts of the Apostles testifies to the power of the Holy Spirit’s work to bring unity amid difference. Ideas were exchanged in community, and differences quickly emerged. Arguments were made, and councils were conducted. Church leaders made their case and frequently went their own way. But through it all, the scripture teaches us that Jesus was big enough to hold everyone together regardless of their (often significant) differences.
Gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ for a Community Thanksgiving Service is one of the best, most faithful things we can do. In fact, it’s one of the most Baptist things we could do. The annual gathering of worship and fellowship that we will participate in this Sunday helps to remind us that we’re not the only ones here. The service helps us to see that we do not sit at the Table of the Lord alone and that our commitment to Christ Jesus is greater than any difference that we may have with one another.
The collaborative work that the First Baptist Church and the First Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church does together multiplies our resources and extends our reach. A Community Thanksgiving Service that we participate in annually is but one of our partnerships. Our community Vacation Bible School experience in the summer and our newly inaugurated Sylva First Sunday events for youth are providing new ways for us to serve together for the common good. When we work together, we can do far more than we could have ever asked or imagined. The Global Church works best when it works together.
Besides, when we choose to serve together as partners in ministry, we are allowing God to answer His Son’s prayer from long ago. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (Jesus in John 17)
When we sit at the table together, the world sees our unity and will recognize Christ’s presence in our table fellowship.
Now, that’s a principle worth standing upon.