“…That They May Be One…” John 17:11

I had a dream last night that I was with a group of Christian friends, riding horses.  Our horses were running with their glorious tails flowing out behind them, except for my horse.  My horse’s tail was shredded, chopped off and not at all elegant like the other horses.  Then I heard the Teacher, instructing another rider in a gentle but firm tone,   “You must not allow your horse to bite another horse’s tail.  You have to control your horse”.  I then realized that my horse’s shredded tail was the result of this other horse’s gnawing teeth.  In spite of my horse’s appearance, we continued running with the rest of the group.

When I awoke I got my coffee and sat down at the computer to check my email.  The latest “Elijah List” had a word from Doug Addison about five ways that the enemy is attacking the church.  The fifth method was judgment and criticism, tail biting if you will, from other believers.  Addison writes:

The fifth plan is to get Christians to continually accuse one another. Accusations and negative talk will quickly slow down your process of promotion. There are more verses in the Bible about not judging others than there are about what many would consider major sins. See, for example, Matthew 7:1-5, James 4:11-12, and John 8:7, to name a few. Jesus said to bless those who curse you. Find ways to let go of your differences and bless the person instead. It will change the situation around for good… A wounded heart is a distracted heart, and now is the time to watch and wait for what God has released for us.

Later, another email appeared in my inbox, an article from an old friend, Christian speaker and writer, Jim Biscardi, entitled “Inspirational Article on Church Unity”.  Jim writes:

All believers are in the midst of a great spiritual battle. The competition between Christians, churches, and denominations are a result of Satan’s strategy to destroy our unity and weaken our witness.  Satan has a game plan for Christians. I believe it is spelled out in Galatians 5:15, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”  It is sad, but true that much of the persecution in the Christian life comes from within the Church. In Zechariah 13:6, when the Lord returns and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ (Revelation 11:15), the Jews will look upon the wounds of Christ, “And one shall say unto him, ‘What are these wounds in your hands?’  Then he shall answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’”

The past two Sundays, our teachings at Shore Vineyard Church in Beachwood, NJ have been on community. Last Saturday our church was involved in two separate events, one in Toms River, NJ, one in Landenberg, PA, where different churches were invited to come together in prayer and worship.  I believe God is highlighting in a very distinct way how incredibly important to his heart is the unity of his Church, his Bride.  Let’s pay close attention.