That They May Be One: Unity for the Sake of the World, Part 2

Could we travel beyond our comfortable theological tribes and villages in order to befriend, encourage, support, and love other pastors and priests in our own community?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul separates humanity into two categories: (1) those who have the Spirit of Christ in them, and (2) those who do not have the Spirit of Christ in them.

Someone having a perceived flawless theology and a vast command of Scripture and theological intricacies does not always equate to having the Spirit of Christ. The Pharisees illustrate that point quite well.

Our task is to love all people, but Jesus places a heavy emphasis that those of us who have the Spirit of Christ in us ought to love another.

Now, I’m guessing some may be quietly protesting that we must be diligent in our theology so we can determine who does or who does not have the Spirit of Christ in them, so we know exactly who we are commanded to love.

But do we really think the evidence of the Spirit of Christ in someone’s life is fundamentally related to their understanding of transubstantiation, modalistic Monarchianism, or the Alexandrian manuscripts?

Why?

So why, ultimately, does this matter? Why can’t I just work on loving those in my congregation or those in my denomination? Why can’t I focus on loving other Evangelicals (whatever that exactly means)? Why would I reach across such theological boundaries to engage, befriend, or even pray with another pastor (or priest) from a theological framework quite different from my own (and likely wrong)?

My answer is this: evangelism.

In John 17, the same evening he gave the disciples the command to love one another, he also prayed for them. The context would suggest that they were surrounding Jesus at the table as he prayed for them, and as they listened in: