This Sunday, as many people across different denominations partake in our respective communion practices, my prayer is that we truly lament the power we have allowed the Thief to have in our churches and then recommit ourselves to oneness, accord, and unification.
This Sunday, October 2nd is a day many Christian communities call “World Communion Sunday.” This tradition was started in 1933 by Rev. Hugh Thomson Kerr of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, PA, USA, and the purpose was to demonstrate unity and connection of the Christian faith across denominations and Christian faith practices. This act of unity should sound somewhat familiar as Paul made a similar call for unity when he said those oft-quoted words in Romans 10:12: “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call him.”
But what does the word unity actually mean? Webster’s dictionary gives three definitions:
- the quality or state of not being multiple (oneness)
- the condition of harmony (accord)
- the quality or state of being made one (unification)
I love those three words – oneness, accord, unification. Let’s utter them again and more slowly. . . . oneness . . . accord . . . unification. Friends, that is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are supposed to have a oneness as we join hands in and across the aisle at our churches. We are supposed to be of one accord as we recite our various creeds and sing our songs across the land. We are supposed to be a people of unification because of the blood and sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
But what has happened? Jesus and Peter have already told us what’s happening in John 10:10, “the thief (Devil) comes only to steal kill and destroy.” Peter said in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I am just going to take the proverbial band-aid off our wound and say that we have allowed the Thief to prowl, steal, kill and destroy our unity. The most sobering part of that fact is that unity was one of the last things Jesus prayed over his disciples (John 17). For that, we must repent. This Sunday, as many people across different denominations partake in our respective communion practices, my prayer is that we truly lament the power we have allowed the Thief to have in our churches and then recommit ourselves to oneness, accord, and unification.
In the coming weeks try to incorporate one liturgical practice or song that is not common to your particular denomination/church practice as an act of unity. Here’s a practical example. Some churches end every service with a singing of the Doxology. If that isn’t your practice, consider giving it a try. Some churches may end their service in silence whereas others tend to end with energy. Some end with a song in their heart language which may not be your congregation’s first language. Try to switch it up and if you do, make the connection to World Communion Sunday’s theme of unity and connectedness.
You may not be in the position to make any kind of liturgical change in the coming weeks, but you as a worshiper still have the opportunity to pray for the unifying work of the Holy Spirit in your heart and in the hearts of those you worship with. I pray that we remember the true Enemy of our faith (here’s a hint, it’s not those made in the Imago Dei). Let’s get back to the basics and not only pray for the persecuted church across the globe but pray for the Methodist church that is around the corner. Let’s pray for the Pentecostal church that is on the other side of the lake. Let’s pray for the Lutherans on the other side of the state or province. Let’s pray that we remember, like the famous High School Musical song that my niece loves— “We’re all in this together.”