Unity

Genesis 11:1 - 9
1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. ² And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. ³ And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” ⁸ So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.⁹ Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

I started reading through Genesis yesterday, 'In the beginning...' (Hahah, A Christianese joke). By today, I had reached Genesis 11, and this story about the tower of Babel that has so often fascinated me.

Two things stood out to me this morning. First of all, all mankind was seeking to make a name for themselves. I think that is where the trouble began. Mankind is designed and created to praise and lift up the name of the Lord. When we purpose to lift up anyone or anything other than Him, we are going against our original design. 

Secondly, I was struck again by the power of unity. When we humans come together in absolute unity, even if working against God's plan and design, we can achieve anything! There is a power here. And I think that is why we the church today are so powerless. We have gotten lost in the our internal arguments. We fight about doctrine, and who is greater (check out Matthew 18 for what Jesus thinks about that) and whether or not homosexuals are damned to hell. I think that there is a time and a place for doctrine, and we need to come to a place of just agreeing with God's Word and what He says, but that should never overtake our efforts at unity. After all, we are ONE body, ONE kingdom. And a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Imagine what earth would be like if we the church would only be united? Imagine if our sole focus and purpose was to love our neighbours and to love God the Father with all our hearts and souls and minds?? There is NOTHING that could stand in the way of such overwhelming love. I wonder how soon the whole world would hear the good news and then Jesus could return?

But as I think about these things, the challenge hits very close to home. Honestly, I do not love my fellow Christians like that, and I do not fight for unity within the Body of Christ. I find non-Christians, generally speaking, nicer to be with and easier to love and like. 

Oh God! I need You here. I need You in my heart and mind to give me Your love for us, this fallen bride of Yours.