Division

            There's an old story about an intersection that has a three-way stop. At each corner there was located a church.

            One church was singing, "Will there be stars in my crown..."

            Another church was singing, "No not one, no not one..."

            Meanwhile, members of the third church were singing, "Oh that will be glory for me..."

Illustrating the Principle of Unity

              The source for the following story is unknown:

                  In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't.

            “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus.

            “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”

                  “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus.

            Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can't you guys get organized like that?”

            Okay, maybe not the best way to practice unity, but it is a good principle of unity—all individuals submitting to a transcending goal… thus joining together as a single unit.

Getting Along

            Anyone knowing me knows Phillip Yancey is one of my favorite writers. In his book WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE (p. 33), he writes:

            Mark Twain used to say he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did, so he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments. Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic; soon there was not a living thing left.

            I wonder if Jesus looks at Christians today… and mourns. Here is what He prayed, “Father, I pray that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me” (John 17:21). NCV

Where I Used to Go to Church

An old story that has made the circuit goes like this:

A man was stranded on a desert island. It was several years before he was rescued. When he was found, it was noticed that there were three buildings he had built on this island. He was asked what they were for.

He pointed to the first one said, "That's where I live."

The rescuers were impressed.

He pointed to the second one and said, "That's where I go to church."

The rescuers were even more impressed. And then they asked, "But what about that third building?"

And he said (in a low voice), "That's where I use to go to church."

Unity is difficult to achieve in a church, even when you are the only member.

Great Church Fights

This poem is found in Leslie Flynn's book GREAT CHURCH FIGHTS:

            Believe as I believe, no more, no less;

            That I am right, and no one else, confess;

            Feel as I feel, think only as I think;

            Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;

            Look as I look, do always as I do;

            And then, and only then, I'll fellowship with you.

                                    -Source Unknown