There are two churches of...
Illustration
There are two churches of the same faith located in the same town just a few blocks from each other. The churches have long and rich histories, with both churches being built in the early 1800s. But over the years the two churches struggled due to declining membership.
A day came when one of the churches burnt to the ground. They received a large check from the insurance company. As they were discussing the possibility of rebuilding their church, a suggestion was made: "Why don't we look into the possibility of merging with the church down the street?" Everyone liked the suggestion, but only if the church down the street were willing to sell their building and enter into a joint project of building a new church on the site where their old church stood before the fire. Someone from the building committee made contact with the other congregation and invited them to discuss the possibility of a merger. The second church was somewhat interested until they were told the conditions for merger. Upon hearing the conditions, someone said to the leaders of the church seeking to build a new building, "Why should we merge with you, especially when we have to sell our church and worship in your new building?" The reply to this question was, "Because we are all Christians!" To this answer, the person replied, "You are not behaving as Christians!"
Paul writes that we are all one in Christ. We are the family of God. But are we more interested in getting our own way than with the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Christ? May the love of Christ dwell in our hearts and churches.
-- Frank
A day came when one of the churches burnt to the ground. They received a large check from the insurance company. As they were discussing the possibility of rebuilding their church, a suggestion was made: "Why don't we look into the possibility of merging with the church down the street?" Everyone liked the suggestion, but only if the church down the street were willing to sell their building and enter into a joint project of building a new church on the site where their old church stood before the fire. Someone from the building committee made contact with the other congregation and invited them to discuss the possibility of a merger. The second church was somewhat interested until they were told the conditions for merger. Upon hearing the conditions, someone said to the leaders of the church seeking to build a new building, "Why should we merge with you, especially when we have to sell our church and worship in your new building?" The reply to this question was, "Because we are all Christians!" To this answer, the person replied, "You are not behaving as Christians!"
Paul writes that we are all one in Christ. We are the family of God. But are we more interested in getting our own way than with the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Christ? May the love of Christ dwell in our hearts and churches.
-- Frank
