Unity is the true essence of Christianity. When Jesus died on the cross at Calvary some two thousand years ago, he died for humanity. When Jesus rose three days later, He completes the redemption of humankind. All are saved and that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life (John 3:16). If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
When that redemption was completed and the way to receiving it was made known, the disciples started witnessing in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) with the help and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The era of evangelism and missionary started.
Up to this day, there are still countless missionaries witnessing for Christ by making known the redemption through sharing the Gospel at all corners of the earth. Churches were planted. People of all races, cultures and social standings congregate together to proclaim the salvation and to celebrate the Saviour.
As people from all walks of life congregate, denominations were established to uphold unique identity of deferring groups but all are witnessing the same God in unity. Different cultural background, social norms, traditions and academic achievements somehow created different ways and methods of proclaiming the salvation and celebrating the Saviour.
Unity is then set in motion. With all the deferring denominations and churches proclaiming the same Gospel, it is a testimony that Christianity is indeed universal and that salvation is for all. Though the approach and application defer, all are worshipping the same God, exist to witness the same universal theme as stated in John 3:16.
In Mark 10:38-40, Jesus taught us to appreciate unity. True enough, the Pentecostal worshipping sessions sometimes feel more like a rock concert, the evangelicals worship in such lifeless way, the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) insist that Sabbath must be on Saturday, the Baptists’ only acceptable method of baptism is through immersion, etc…, all are essentially worshipping the same God, proclaiming the same message and celebrating the same Saviour.
Indeed whoever is not against us is for us (Mark 10:40). Unity therefore is a rich heritage of Christianity. No Christian should despise another Christian because he or she worships differently or is from different denomination.
Let Christians the world over uphold unity and reject uniformity. As long as the truth within the scripture is uphold in its entirety, we are all Christians, proclaiming the same Gospel, worshipping the same God and celebrating the same Saviour. Hallelujah. God bless you.
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