Nuggets 55: May They Be One

  • B. Shelburne
  • Feb 2, 2007
  • Series: Nuggets

Our four-wheel-drive Landrover clambered over the rough bush road on our way to an African village church.  Several Malawian preachers traveled with me.  It was 1961 and I had only been in Malawi a few months.  As we passed a mud and thatch church building, one of the brothers commented, "That church belongs to a fellowship that used to be one with us long ago."  "If they are from the same roots as we," I answered, "can we meet with them some time and get to know them?"  My companions were less than enthusiastic.  They didn't really want to share their missionaries with anyone else.  Yet because I insisted they finally arranged a meeting.

I talked with the leaders of the other group about their work, what they believed, and why they parted ways with the fellowship of churches who had invited us to Malawi.  I learned that there was no doctrinal reason for the separation, just personalities.  I said to them, "Our mission has no desire to interfere with your churches or take over leadership.  But we share the same beliefs and Jesus prayed for his followers to be one.  We offer studies at the mission to help leaders and we want you to know that you and your people will always be welcome to attend."

Gradually some of them did.  We missionaries also encouraged congregations associated with us to invite congregations from the other group to their camp meetings and special events.  As the years went by, preachers and leaders from both sides got to know each other again.  Fears and misunderstandings diminished.  The groups became more helpful to each other.  It took 18 years, but in the last year before I left Malawi, I attended a historic meeting where leaders from the two groups officially offered each other the "right hand of fellowship."

Sometimes there are Biblical reasons why churches can't work together.  Other divisions continue simply because there is no motivation to work toward unity.  The Spirit longs for unity where it is Biblically possible, and so should our spirits.

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John 17:11,20,21;  1 Corinthians 1:10-13;  3:16,17;  Ephesians 4:1-6;  Galatians 5:19-23;  Philippians 2:14,15;  Matthew 5:9:  2 Corinthians 13:14

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