None of us lives to himself ...
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. -Romans 14:5-8 ESV
I read these verses, look at the current state of the Church, and understand that we are not called to walk in lock-step with regard to the way that we worship the Lord. It makes sense that churches are different because we are all different. I think that this sort of diversity is a strength and not a weakness. God has called us as individuals and also as friends. Even large religious organizations have much diversity in their make-up. How could they not?
Our call as believers is unity in mission and not uniformity of style. Whatever we do we do it as unto the Lord and not to ourselves. That said, I think that we often stray when we imagine that we can honor the Lord in isolation. The church was never meant to be a monastery or nunnery. Our message is one for the world and not for the church. Somehow we must find a way to embrace the diversity of other expressions of worship and stop fighting amongst ourselves.
Make us one Lord. Heart by heart. Mind by mind. Help us to see each other as you see us.
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