Name Tags: You are… Brethren!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)

In John 17, Jesus prayed to God. It’s our King’s longest recorded prayer, and most of it was about US, CHRISTIANS... circling around the theme of unity:

'I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me' (John 17:10-21, NKJV).

Please reconsider the concluding phrase: 'That the world may believe that You sent Me.'

Could He mean our unity is crucial… so His lost sheep will want to follow us?

  • As in a house divided cannot stand?*

  • As in who wants to join a broken home?

  • As in fighting families are “turn-offs”?

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Regardless of your denomination, I urge you to keep your arms wide open: to expand your mind and heart like Jesus; to rise above man’s religiosity, and to refuse to judge other Christians.

After I became an all-in Christian, I was warned about certain other “sects”, who preached Christ, but their practices differed from common evangelical values. 

Please recall our Savior’s far-reaching Words:

'I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My Voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd' (John 10:16).**

The bottom denominational line?

LOOK FOR THE BEST among your Christian kin. Look for agreement– NOT disagreement. If you both agree Jesus Christ is KING!, then HE is your common, UNcommon ground.

  • Don't condemn their rules or how they worship.

  • Maybe they won't become your closest friends.

  • Maybe some of what they think doesn’t “jive”...

  • But some of what you think may be wrong, too.

  • May the Holy Spirit correct us ALL!

God wants us to show a united front. If we don’t, we’re repping Jesus poorly!

Name Tags: You Are… Brethren! (Part 16)

* 'If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand' (Mark 3:25).

** Most Bible scholars agree that the 'other sheep' to which Jesus originally referred were Gentiles/outsiders/us. That being said, who are they today? Now that we're insiders, who are the outsiders? Could they be lost sheep, prodigals, outsiders, denominations foreign to us, or people with good hearts who are destined to meet Christ? Even if part of what they believe is wrong?

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban