Bridging the Gap - One House, Many Rooms...

The Body of Christ is one of many, many parts. Many are familiar with the denominational differences - Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and many more. More differences enter into the mix when you include location, social status, race, gender, and even sexuality. Addressing the issue that the topic of sexuality brings to the Body is one that churches and the Christian LGBT community have battled back and forth on for years. For many, the divisions caused in this struggle seem unfixable, irreversible. Those on both "sides" of the battle have written books, created organizations/ministries, and more in their struggle for victory. I would like to offer another option....some food for thought...

Believe it or not, despite the differences present on both sides, there is one massively important similarity - Jesus Christ. Christ, the Foundation upon which we all stand, the Rock of our Faith, our Wonderful Counselor, King of Kings, Prince of Peace....the very reason we have our faith to begin with...He is the only one who can unite and help heal the wounded and build up the Body. The Apostle Paul writes,

"It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV

So often I find myself falling into that infant category, blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. In my humble opinion, the best way to create bridges and move towards unity within the Body of Christ is for each of us to continually focus on Christ, our Foundation, our Unifier. When that happens, when we become that unified Body of Christ (yes, still with differences) that edifies and builds itself up, we will be able to move forward in loving and showing grace to not only the LGBT community, but each and every group that we have shied away from in the past.

C.S. Lewis sums it up well...

"It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house...When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house."

Taken from Mere Christianity

Heavenly Father, as we move forward to unity in Your house, grant each and every one of us wisdom and discernment as we move out of our comfort zones to follow Your Will. Grant us ears to hear, hearts to understand, and the words to say (when necessary, and always in Your love). You are our Saviour, our Rock, and our Unifier. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen!

*This blog post is part of the Bridging the Gap Synchroblog Event. For more information, go to http://btgproject.blogspot.com/