Everyone seems to know now that there are groups of people, mostly Christian, who have this idea to actually stop poverty. They’re not just saying it either, but they’re actually working toward their goal. To most people, this seems like a great idea, right? Well, look at it this way. Other people say and believe that the entire world, all the nations, can be completely united under one church. A worldwide belief that we can all be united under one denomination. They showed John 17:20-21 to prove that not only is this possible, but Jesus wanted it. For you, I shall state the verses below.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (verse 21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
This is what they say helps their cause to unite the world under one banner of Jesus Christ. Now, these people have gone a ways concerning this plan, and have progressed far in spreading Gods word everywhere. However, this verse is not taken in its entirety. Let me show you John 17:20-26.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: (23) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (24) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (25) “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. (26) I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Look at these verses! These aren’t earthly, through the church unity! This is spiritual unity! The focus of the church is not to bind all churches together, but to spread God’s word as far and as wide as possible. To spread Christ to all people.
Jesus prays that God would give us, his children, what he gives Jesus, which is his love. Jesus prays that God would show his love to all of his chosen, and that that love would spread to all in witnessing.
A great theme throughout the gospels is that the world does not know the son, the world rejects its own, and therefore, the world does not know peace, nor unity. This is the problem with the world; this is why we cannot have a perfect peace throughout the world. This is why we cannot get rid of poverty; this is why we cannot unite the world under one banner. While there is sin, while there is evil, there will not be unity.
These people are working horizontally, trying to build up a unity on the earth; a unity of works a unity of human accomplishments. This is not what God wants. God wants us to work vertically, that we spread Gods love, peace and unity through Christ, not by common beliefs or churches. There will always be different denominations, and belief in different doctrinal points, but there is no difference in our love and peace through Jesus. This is the only unity we can possibly have.
Nice piece!