I have a concern.  

It’s about people. Where they are headed. That people think they are leaving “church” when really, they are unplugging from fellowship. Thinking that is the answer. 

You and me. We are the church. How can we leave? Oh, we can leave fellowship. But how do you take communion, declaring we are one… and then walk away? 

I get that sometimes judgement, bad preaching and even spiritual abuse can raise their ugly head .

This week I encountered some thoughts that truthfully made me think. 

• The first was a sign that said “why I left the church”.
• The second was a friend’s ministry he is beginning called “religionless”.
• The third was an article a friend posted about Evangelicalism.
• The fourth was a post from a woman who had been told she could not be a believer because she voted blue. 

I read, watched and thought. 

I had a conversation this week, with a friend. It centered around the thought of communion, the table of the Lord. The Eucharist. 

The word is from the Greek eukharistia ‘thanksgiving,’ from Greek eukharistos ‘grateful,’ from eu ‘well’ + kharizesthai ‘offer graciously’, from kharis ‘grace’ 

It was about loving others. 

So, when it comes to the church, or the fellowship that people are leaving, I want to change things, do things better. 

Those four things. 

All of these were posted by people I consider believers. People who may have been hurt. May not have been. Who am I to say? 

We joke about “why we can’t all get along” but really… Do we not see the reality of the Eucharist? What does it mean? Why is it important? 

I think it is really important. It is easy to shrug it off if we decide to divide instead of gather. 

(Years ago I said if we gather because of mutual anger and hatred, it won’t last. Because someone will “wake” up and decide to pursue Gods principles and others will be left behind.) 

Let us gather in His name. 

This is called the “apostle’s creed”.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. 

I do not think the decision to unplug is the best way. I get some may disagree with me. I think finding those who encourage, edify and exhort us to greater things is the way. 

A friend said to me this morning, “if we are the church, why must we be in a building?” I don’t think we need a building, but if you live in New England, being outside is a shade more difficult. 

I don’t have all the answers, nor do I profess to. I do think the answer to so many of our divisions can be found in scripture. And honestly, anything less, leaves me empty. 

I Corinthians 1:10  
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 

That is greater than politics… 

Colossians 3:13-14
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Bigger than Facebook… 

Psalm 133:1 
1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 

Yes…It is time… 

Let us cast down divisiveness, gossip, backbiting and malice. Let us be the answer to the Lord’s prayer of John 17.