Psalm 133 opens with the exclamation: “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” Good and pleasant, yes—but also exceedingly difficult. Let’s face it, just because we are a family of faith doesn’t mean that we are always one big, happy family. Being brothers and sisters in Christ is not an automatic guarantee that we will get along with one another.
Actually, when you think about it, most brothers and sisters occasionally disagree—and sometimes even fight. The very first story in the Bible about siblings is the story of Cain and Abel … and as you probably recall, it’s not exactly a “happily ever after” story. Flip ahead a few chapters and you’ll find the story of Joseph whose brothers hated him so much they sold him into slavery at their earliest opportunity. King David fought with his brothers, and then turned around and had a full-fledged war with one of his sons. In fact, the evidence suggests that there were tensions even in Jesus’ family.
This week the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is meeting in San Jose, California. Three of our own family—Nancy Drake, Tom Brown, and Brent Thompson—are serving as commissioners. Hopefully, the proceedings will be conducted in good, Presbyterian fashion, which is to say, “decently and in order.” However, if past General Assemblies are any indication, there may also be a fair amount of wrangling over proposed amendments, wrestling over various policy statements, and a whole lot of animated discussion over even the smallest of items.
With all the fussing and feuding, you sometimes wonder how we have managed to stay together this long … and, more importantly, if we’ll be able to stay together as a denomination much longer.
But I have a great deal of faith—not so much in us (we’re no different than any other family that occasionally squabbles). My faith is in Jesus Christ. After all, it is Christ who makes us a family in the first place. And if we can keep listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, whose call brings us together … then I have no doubt that we will remain bound together.
Actually, when you think about it, most brothers and sisters occasionally disagree—and sometimes even fight. The very first story in the Bible about siblings is the story of Cain and Abel … and as you probably recall, it’s not exactly a “happily ever after” story. Flip ahead a few chapters and you’ll find the story of Joseph whose brothers hated him so much they sold him into slavery at their earliest opportunity. King David fought with his brothers, and then turned around and had a full-fledged war with one of his sons. In fact, the evidence suggests that there were tensions even in Jesus’ family.
This week the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is meeting in San Jose, California. Three of our own family—Nancy Drake, Tom Brown, and Brent Thompson—are serving as commissioners. Hopefully, the proceedings will be conducted in good, Presbyterian fashion, which is to say, “decently and in order.” However, if past General Assemblies are any indication, there may also be a fair amount of wrangling over proposed amendments, wrestling over various policy statements, and a whole lot of animated discussion over even the smallest of items.
With all the fussing and feuding, you sometimes wonder how we have managed to stay together this long … and, more importantly, if we’ll be able to stay together as a denomination much longer.
But I have a great deal of faith—not so much in us (we’re no different than any other family that occasionally squabbles). My faith is in Jesus Christ. After all, it is Christ who makes us a family in the first place. And if we can keep listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, whose call brings us together … then I have no doubt that we will remain bound together.
posted by Dr. Robert Crilley at
9:02 PM
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