“To the younger Christians who don’t have much denominational loyalty and who don’t fully appreciate or understand the history and depth of our denominational differences, do our unity efforts with the ‘4 Midland’ churches mean anything?”
I asked this question out loud at our GCR Church staff meeting Monday morning, less than 14-hours after the conclusion of our second annual “4 Midland” Thanksgiving Service. I asked it again during a de-briefing and wrap-up of the service on our GCR Podcast.
Of the more than 700 people in attendance at Sunday’s combined assembly, it seemed that many more of them were in their 50s and older. There weren’t too many families there with school-aged children. Not too many folks in their 30s and 40s. The energy in the room was beautiful. The singing was inspirational. The fellowship was welcoming and warm. Steve Brooks’ message was powerful. For people my age and older, it is unquestionably a BIG DEAL when First Baptist, First Methodist, First Presbyterian, and the Church of Christ get together to do anything. But when we lay aside our denominational and doctrinal differences to experience and express the visible and physical unity we share in Christ by worshiping together in each other’s spaces, it’s HUGE!
But does it matter to people younger than me?
Does it matter that four congregations of Christians representing four distinct denominations with four different views and practices in important areas like baptism and communion and ordination and church polity are setting those differences aside to worship God with one heart and one voice? Does it matter that these four churches are making a public stand for the unity of all who call on the name of the Lord over their own denominational traditions? Does it matter that these churches are choosing love and grace over opinion and position in very public ways?
Yes, it matters. Of course, it matters. We know it matters. But does it matter to people younger than me?
I believe it does. You’re not surprised by that. But let me explain.
Our society and all the world’s powers are singularly focused on dividing us–all of us. Our culture is bent on pointing out our differences, accentuating them, and demanding that we divide over them. Everything in the world points to that. Thrives on that. Makes money off that. Division is what drives our country’s politics, it’s what fuels the planet’s largest digital technology companies. it’s what makes the whole world roll. Our world demands that you take an immediate position on every single issue and never waver. Plant your flag immediately and loudly, draw your line, dig in, and never give in. Compromise is a dirty word in our culture.
Where else on this globe are people ever going to experience a coming together in mutual love and respect of folks with different viewpoints and opinions? Where else in this world will people ever see modeled a laying down of individual rights and group practices for the sake of dignity and charity and grace for people with differing backgrounds and beliefs?
There is only one place. The Church is the only place.
That’s why it matters. If nothing else, the younger among us who are disgusted by all the arguing and fighting need to know that this kind of division is the default in our society now. Separating into our individual bubbles of belief to throw rocks at everybody who is not inside our bubbles is how things are now. And God’s Church must be the model for a different way. The Church is the only place, the only people, the only system of beliefs and values, that can practice unity and love across political, racial, economic, gender, and geographical lines.
The only place.
That’s why it matters. To everybody.
That’s why it must be guarded fiercely, practiced frequently, and celebrated always. It can’t be blown off or taken for granted; it can’t be ignored or dismissed because, in our culture today, it wouldn’t take much to blow it up. It wouldn’t take much to lose it.
And then there would be no place.
That’s why it matters. To everybody.
Peace,
Allan
On November 25, 1989 Carrie-Anne Rowland married me. She married ME! Can you believe that? It’s almost impossible to comprehend. Carrie-Anne flew with me to Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend and married me in a 45-second ceremony at 11:45pm in the basement of the Clark County courthouse. Carrie-Anne married me 36-years ago today.
Perhaps I caught her in a moment of weakness; she’s not a naturally impulsive person. At the time, I considered myself incredibly lucky. Today, more and more, I consider myself unbelievably blessed by God.
I love you, darling. I thank God for his eternal love and faithfulness that I experience in the love and faithfulness we share together in our marriage. Thank you for marrying me 36-years ago and for loving me every day since.
These anniversaries are coming faster and faster, it seems, and our time together on this side of glory is getting shorter. How about dinner and a movie tonight and a trip to Tulsa next weekend? That feels about right.
Happy Anniversary!
Allan
Just to dispel the rumors, I did NOT preach in Steve Schorr’s robe yesterday at First Presbyterian Church. I did preach the Word with our brothers and sisters at First Pres yesterday, and I was honored and blessed by God to do it. But I did not preach in any robe.
I was gathered with the excellent pastoral team at First Pres–Walter, Dillon, Erica, Charlotte–and going over the order of service, checking my microphone, praying, and all the things you do before a Sunday morning worship assembly. Dillon joked about me wearing the robe and it turned into a photo gag for Steve. I put the robe on, we took the pic, and they sent it to Steve. Hey, ha ha, Allan is wearing your robe!
Little did I know that Steve, who was preparing to preach at GCR, gave his phone to Andrew and Tim in the A/V booth and they grabbed the photo to show to our whole church! Steve put it up on the big screens early in his sermon!
Needless to say, I had several text messages waiting for me after church. Mostly smart-alack remarks. A couple of pointed questions. And they kept coming. All afternoon. As soon as I entered our building Sunday afternoon for the 4Midland Thanksgiving Service. And a couple more after the service.
Wearing that robe, even for that short amount of time, even as a joke, has caused me to do some deeper reflection on the whole clergy regalia thing. I’ve always had many reasons–convictions!–for not wearing a robe while I preach. But, for the first time ever, I’ve realized there are some good reasons for embracing it.
- I would never have to iron a shirt on Saturday night. I would never have to decide what to wear. The robe covers everything. My socks wouldn’t even have to match!
- The robe gives off a very pious look. People might take me more seriously.
- Big pockets. There are huge pockets inside that robe. Places to put my gum, my pen, my index cards. Pockets enough to conceal a Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll and a Diet Dr Pepper.
- The slimming effect. At least two people told me I looked thinner in the robe. Because it’s black? I don’t know. This is a very compelling reason to change my mind about robes.
- It’s the only reason anybody would ever think of maybe calling me “Your Eminence.” I’ve always wanted somebody to call me “Your Eminence.”
I’ll write more about the amazing 4Midland Thanksgiving Service tomorrow. I just wanted to clear up any questions about the robe.
Peace,
Allan
Presbyterian pastor Thomas Campbell got himself in trouble in 1809 for preaching fiery sermons about Christian unity. His continuing call to discard denominational labels for unity with all who call on the name of the Lord got him censured by his presbytery and then fired by his synod in western Pennsylvania. At about the same time, another Presbyterian preacher in Kentucky named Barton Stone dissolved his presbytery to unite with everyone who would simply be known as Christians.
Stone and Campbell had met each other earlier at the Cane Ridge Revival, a Presbyterian communion meeting in Kentucky. Then, in September of 1809, Campbell wrote the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington County, Pennsylvania. It was a call to Christian unity based on Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and the whole of Scripture that presents complete unity among all disciples of Christ as the holy will of God. Here is an excerpt from the opening lines:
The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one, consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures… All that are enabled, thro’ grace, to make the Christian confession, and to manifest the reality of it in their tempers and conduct, should consider each other as the precious saints of God, should love each other as brethren, children of the same family and Father, temples of the same Spirit, members of the same Body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same divine love, bought with the same price, and joint heirs of the same inheritance. Whom God hath thus joined together no man should dare to put asunder.
Towards the end of that great document, Campbell wrote, “What? Shall we pray for a thing and not strive to obtain it?”
The Declaration and Address became a founding document for the American Restoration Movement, a Christian unity movement that produced the Churches of Christ. See, everybody in the Churches of Christ have a little Presbyterian blood in us. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the good Presbyterians who refused to let denominational differences separate them from other followers of Jesus.
It is in that spirit of unity and fellowship with all disciples of Christ that the 4 Midland churches come together on this Sunday before Thanksgiving.
I am preaching at First Presbyterian Church in Midland this morning while my brother and friend Steve Schorr, the pastor at First Presbyterian, is preaching at GCR. Steve Brooks, the preacher at First Methodist, and Darin Wood, the pastor at First Baptist, are also swapping pulpits as part of our annual 4 Midland Sunday. Then this evening, we are hosting our annual Thanksgiving service at GCR. Cory is leading a combined choir made up of singers from all four churches, Steve Brooks is bringing the message, and we’re all going to sing and pray and hear the Word together in the presence of our God who calls us to be one. Christian unity is God’s will, it is Christ’s prayer, and it is the reconciling work of the Holy Spirit. And our four churches are leaning in.
I feel so very honored and privileged and blessed by God for our friendships and partnerships in the Gospel. And exceedingly thankful. Thankful to the Lord, thankful to my colleagues in these other three churches, and thankful for the people in our congregations who are committed to closer fellowship and deeper unity in Christ. And exceedingly thankful for those good Presbyterians who more than 200 years ago committed to Christian unity with all who call on the name of our Lord and gave us the tradition that first instilled the faith in me.
Peace,
Allan
Our unity with all Christians, our deep and inseparable connection with all who call on the name of the Lord, comes when we commit ourselves to Christ. When our hearts are focused on Christ. When our lives are centered on Jesus.
I have posted this quote from the author and preacher A.W. Tozer before. It’s worth reflecting on his words again today:
“Has it ever occurred to you that one thousand pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one thousand worshipers meeting together, each one looking to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become unity-conscious and turn their eyes away from Jesus to strive for closer fellowship.”
Our togetherness within our own Christian churches and our increased unity with all congregations of our brothers and sisters in Christ from every denominational stripe brings glory to God. Christian unity is our God’s will, our Lord’s prayer, and the reconciling work of the Holy Spirit. It points to Jesus and it results in praise to God.
Peace,
Allan
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