Each week I try to write an article or two about various issues as God leads. I spend time in prayer, asking God what he wants to say to his church through me and my teaching ministry. One thing that has been pressing on my mind for months has been the issue of unity within the church—this local church we call New City Church. My concern is also for the broader church which is made up of local churches, but I am called to serve this one in particular so my focus is on New City. This is what led to our series in September / October called “Politics and Christian Unity” and, as we’ve seen, this issue was a major focus in Jesus’ last supper with his disciples in John’s Gospel, chapters 13–17. If you missed these sermons, here are links them. Both video and audio options are available.
1: “True Citizenship”
2: “Sojourners & Exiles”
3: “Embassy”
4. “Walking in Love”
In the midst of great diversity, and especially in the midst of political diversity, one of the greatest causes of disunity is a lack of charity for those who disagree with you. This is seen in assuming the worst, both in intent and in scope. As the apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Love is, quite simply, the opposite of our “cancel culture”. Still further, the apostle Peter wrote in his first letter, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” When others say things we don’t like—for example, expressing a political view quite unlike our own—love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and if the one expressing a contrary view is actually sinful in his or her expression of it, love covers a multitude of sins.
I’ve been wanting to write about this for a while and then an article appeared this morning on the Gospel Coalition’s website (New City is a member of the Gospel Coalition). The article, written by Thaddeus Williams, is called “The False Gospel of Assuming the Worst of Others”. I urge you to read this when you are able. It is a good and timely word, written far better than I could have achieved. Praise the Lord for gifted men and women who use their gifts for the greater good! The link is below.