Ecumenism

SAT., JULY 11, 1992, 6:13 AM
FARM, STUDY

This shall be the theme for My servant Harry’s sermon message tomorrow, and you need some ideas for what you will do with the children. Since you also will lead a discussion of the sermon afterward you would be wise to listen to Me as I share some of My thoughts with you. I’m always your best source of information, remember?!

Ecumenism is the spirit of oneness in those who call themselves Christians or “little Christs.” It is the spirit that you are part of a large body that has many parts. These parts can all be seen as separate, but they’re most functional when they’re working together. (Listen to Me now. You have all day to prepare for what you’ll actually do.) You are active in a Presbyterian church. Down the street are the Lutherans and the Episcopalians. Up the street are the Baptists, Methodists, and Disciples. Also in the neighborhood are the Christian Scientists and the Catholics. All shall be worshipping and remembering Me tomorrow, but the ways of experiencing the worship service are slightly to greatly different… as I participate in each.

Yet they are all part of My Body, the Church of Jesus Christ. I like diversity. I didn’t create everyone to look and act the same. I didn’t create just one church to serve Me in only one way. You are all part of humanity. You are all humans together. But you are obviously different from one another. Sometimes I want to emphasize the differences, and at other times, the ways in which you are alike.

Likewise, with the Church… I like and encourage the differences. I want some services to be loud and long, with each person feeling the spirit moving in her own way. I want other services to be quiet and structured, emphasizing the need for contemplation and the need for stability and continuity. Churches differ in size and in architecture. The hymns will be different, even sung differently. You remember three churches in Cuba, each quite different from the others.

Yet you are all part of the One Body. I can feel the spirit in these different churches, and I can feel it as one. Differences, put together, can make for a more complete One. The other possibility is disharmony, of course, and that’s the risk I have run as I’ve encouraged these differences… this diversity. A great symphony orchestra includes many instruments, but only one of some, a few of some others, and many of certain instruments. All of this diversity produces the most beautiful music, if they practice together and each plays his own part as it should be played.

It is harder for My Church to be together than to function in its separate ways. You realize that there is diversity in each denomination and even in each individual church. I like the attempts to come together, even when they are not obviously successful. And I am not really bothered by the reality that the Oneness comes mostly in spirit. Remember that I am Spirit, and this is the essence of any person or any church.