Summer Together: United

We gathered this past Sunday first and foremost worship God.  Secondly, to celebrate the strength and beauty of our great nation, the United States of America—a country founded on the principles of unity and diversity. We are a nation of many voices, cultures, and traditions, still navigating the grand experiment of democracy. Over 248 years, we have campaigned for freedom in various forms, even as we reckon with our sinful history marked by the disregard for human value—from slavery to the denial of unalienable rights for all genders, sexual orientations, and races.

As followers of Jesus Christ, our primary citizenship is in another Kingdom. God is our ruler and lord, commanding us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is key to all we do as Christians and as a nation. Regardless of others' beliefs or values, the Church—the bride of Christ—remains the key witness to our world and nation.

In our modern world, we need to be well-trained as citizens of God’s Kingdom to navigate the diversity of people, thought, and culture in our great country. We are His witnesses because we love God, love each other, and love others. Living in a Christ-like way is essential to being the witnesses we are called to be. There is no greater opportunity than now to be a witness for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Being united together in Christ is filled with purpose, power, and faithfulness.

I feel a deep burden and calling from God to prepare each person who attends this church, so we do not fall short of making the impact God has called us to make on our world and nation.
Over the last 125 years, when it has mattered most, our nation has come together for the good of all people, fighting for the oppressed and the conquered. Now is the time to come together as the bride of Christ. We must unite around love, peace, grace, hope, forgiveness, and unity in the body of Christ Jesus.

Today, our nation faces stark disagreements on various topics, from politics to race, gender, immigration, the economy, international policy, and climate change. These divisions are exacerbated by voices that manufacture panic and scream of hopeless division. But we must recognize that these messages of division benefit no one but those who seek to exploit them.

I do believe we are united in our feelings of hopelessness and alienation by political leaders. But the enduring power of faith and charity, along with the pursuit of freedom for all, will always push back against division. American exceptionalism is not dead; we must ensure those who seek to exploit divisions do not succeed in destroying our nation.

The Church must focus on the unity of the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul reminds us that God has united us with Christ Jesus, making us pure and holy. Psalms 133 speaks of the beauty and blessing of living together in harmony. Philippians 2:1-2 calls us to agree wholeheartedly, love one another, and work together with one mind and purpose.
In the first century, Paul trained the early church to remain united by the Spirit despite their diversity. This unity was not about being clones but about working together towards a unified goal. Ephesians 4:3-13 calls us to make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit, binding ourselves together with peace.

Unity in the Church is maintained by faith, abiding in Christ, nourishing ourselves on Him, and being obedient to Him. As Lucy from the Peanuts cartoon demonstrated with her clenched fist, unity is powerful. Let us be strong and unite with purpose, power, and faithfulness in Christ.

Our calling is clear: to be united in Christ, to fight for love, peace, grace, hope, forgiveness, and unity. Let us live out this calling with conviction and commitment, shining as witnesses of God's Kingdom in our world and nation.