Church Division

	I talked to a member of my church yesterday.  While this in itself would 
be considered a bit of an anomaly for me, the most interesting part of the whole 
exchange was the fact of our completely opposite views on the subject being 
discussed.  At the time I simply left the room so as not to become involved in 
an argument with this person.  But this morning as my mind ran over the general 
situation, I began to reflect on some of the teachings I've received over the 
last few weeks.  See, division is born out of discussions such as the one I was 
having yesterday.  And given that the strength of my position brought me in 
direct opposition to theirs, it would have been the easiest thing in the world 
for me to stop wanting to hang around that person or even start labeling them 
when talking to others of my new church family.

	Instead of doing either of these things, the Lord directed me to take a 
step back and stop looking at the situation in anger, but as a matter of course.  
Each and every human being on this planet is a reflection of God.  This makes 
each individual a glimpse into the different aspects of the nature of the 
Father.  However much (or little) of the Divine nature each person chooses to 
reveal is up to them, but it makes that interaction no less (or more) important.  
This basic truth becomes more important within the body of Chris, for while the 
World is using these glimpses to seek for Love, as Christians we use these same 
glimpses to strengthen and encourage ourselves to become more like Love.  It 
also helps us as Christians to live in harmony with one another because - as the 
Bible tells us many times and in many ways (Verses???) - we all need each other.

	I could go on and on with this, but the lesson God showed me on the way to 
church this morning is this: to live in harmony with those around me, Christian 
and non-Christian alike, I've got to start finding points of agreement.  The 
Bible says that 'when two or three agree, there am I' (Book? Verse?).  Because I 
desire to have the Father present in my life and especially when interacting 
with other people, I need to take things down a notch.  For example, I know that 
this person and I both worship and reverence the name of the Most High, His 
precious Son, Jesus Christ, and the sweet Spirit left to us to guide us when the 
Lord, the Christ could not be here to help us Himself.  I also know that we both 
wish with all our hearts and souls to serve our Father, and we've dedicated our 
lives to realizing the vision God has for each of our lives.  By letting go of 
the rest of the petty differences between us, I can see that in the things that 
matter, we are in perfect agreement.  

	There are plenty of instances in life where the parts of a whole have a 
common goal but don't about their individual tasks the same way.  Take for 
example the lungs and the liver.  These two organs have very little in common; 
they have different ways of functioning and different functions altogether.  
Yet, they both have the common task of keeping the body alive and well, and each 
is dedicated to obtaining this goal by performing their separate jobs to the 
best of their abilities.  This common goal puts the lungs in agreement with the 
liver, hands, stomach, bowels, feet, and every other organ in the body.  And 
using this same example, the body will not survive very long without the hands 
or ribs or any other part of itself, for the body is fearfully and wonderfully 
made (Ps 139: 14).  

	We as a body or assembly are just as fearfully and wonderfully made.  God 
has put me in the lives of those around me to form communion and receive a 
fuller image of Jehovah El-Shadai.  Depending on the kinds of lives He's placed 
around me, He has a purpose for each interaction He ordains us to have.  Even 
chance meetings on the street are not accidental.  Remember that the Lord 
desires we be in fellowship with each other because He knows we cannot make it 
through this life alone.  Even Adam was in need of companionship (Gen 2: 20-23) 
and he dwelled with God Himself in the Garden of Eden.  The Lord assessed Adam's 
situation while He walked with the man, back before sin had come between them.  
He looked at the man He had created and decided that he needed a helpmeet.  How 
much more do we need each other now?

			- Asenia 'Senie' McMillan

September 7, 2003