Intimacy Among Us

that they may be one, as You are in Me, Father, and I in You, that they maybe one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  John 17:21

In – The tiny Greek preposition en can’t quite be captured in English.  Yes, en is translated “in”, but it also has nuances of “in the sphere of, in connection with, within, inside, by, on, near, among and with.”  In this famous passage, this little preposition contains an incredible opportunity and a damning indictment.  As part of Jesus’ prayer, it’s something we need to study very seriously.

Did you know that the general reaction of the Jewish community to the fractured denominations of Christianity is shocked disgust?  Do you think that pagans feel any differently?  Just consider all of our spiritual bickering, theological “disputes” and general lack of love for our own brothers and sisters who don’t share our version of God’s revelation.  Do you think Jesus had this in mind when He asked the Father for unity? 

Don’t for a second think that this is about the ecumenical movement.  This is not about “agreements” between rival denominations – or even between Catholics and Protestants.  Jesus is pleading for a unity of intimacy and of spirit, that results in belief in His deity.  Jesus is asking us to live as He lives, throwing aside the arguments of the contemporary Pharisees, bringing the good news of transformation to fragmented lives.  This is not about my “head” knowledge.  This is about my heart connected to your heart in the pursuit of a love for God that overshadows all our human differences.

Does it really matter if I am Methodist or Presbyterian or Pentecostal or Catholic when I stand in the midst of a refugee camp with thousands of starving people?  Do I really care if you believe in baptism by immersion or sprinkling or symbol when I confront genocide?  Don’t you and I just want God’s love to flow through us to a world that is diseased, lost and hopeless?  Would you withhold your helping hand in an orphanage because the one next to you wasn’t from your church?

It might be worth taking the time to imagine exactly how the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father.  It certainly means a clarity of purpose, a daily intimacy, a willingness for self-sacrifice and total obedience.  Where you find these in the life of a believer, you find the presence of the Spirit.  And what would you rather have: doctrinal distinctions or hearts that cry, “Abba, Father.”

Why not take a minute today to hug someone who isn’t part of your flock but is in Him.  And all God’s children said, “Amen!”