"Jesus' Prayer for the Church"
Sermon Preached by
The Rev. David McMaster
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Text: John 17:13-26
Almost from its inception, the church has known disagreement and discord. Whether it was in the early denominationalism of first century Corinth, the Arian controversy of the third and fourth centuries, the 11th century schism that divided East and West into the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, or the 16th century reformation that further divided catholics into Roman Catholic and Protestant, the church has experienced and lived with disunity.
I experienced an excessive form of this disunity first hand in my growing years in Ireland. When my family moved north to Belfast, the dissonance and polarization of the Roman and Protestant communities was blatant. I saw things in Belfast and experienced hatred at levels that most Canadians have never known.
Similar issues are, to a lesser extent, a part of Scottish life, but were severe in the years of Reformation. At Scotland's oldest university, The University of St. Andrews, each day the theological community of St. Mary's College gathers for tea in the Junior Common Room. When I was there, we would walk up a winding stone staircase in the tower to that room. It was large, pleasant enough for tea - or so I thought - until one day I was educated in its dark secrets. St. Andrews was the seat of the Archbishop of Scotland, and it was there that John Knox and others led to the Reformation. In those early days, as the Church of Scotland was being born, the conflict as sides vied for control brought violence and death. One poor soul was accosted, heaved out of a window in the Junior Common Room and fell to his death because his theology was “wrong.”
Division and dissonance are, therefore, not new to the church. It is no real surprise that in the year of our Lord, 2007, we live with another possible schism before us as the world-wide Anglican Church appears poised to split.
Isn't it interesting that some of the last words Jesus uttered before going to his death, resurrection and ascension were for Christian unity? Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples; the cross lay before him. Barring the resurrection appearances, this was his last opportunity to address his disciples at length. In spite of all that he was about to face, John reveals that Jesus was less concerned about his own well-being than that of his followers. In chapters 13 to 17, he spoke to them about where he was going and the coming Holy Spirit. He prayed for them; he prayed for their protection, their well-being in eternity and, most of all, that they would be one in love.
In John 13:34, Jesus said “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” In John 15:12, he said, “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved to. Greater love has no one than this, than that one lay down one's life for one's friends.” Then in today's reading, in what is called Jesus' high priestly prayer, he said, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
For us, this is one of the most precious parts of the New Testament. Unlike other parts, this is a prayer directly for us. Jesus prayed, not just for his disciples, “but also on behalf of those who will believe... through their word.” This prayer was for all the ensuing generations of Christians - for us - that we would be one. Yet when it comes to unity, it cannot be said that we, as the church, have done particularly well in following this desire of Christ. In almost every age, there seems to be dissonance. I'm reminded of a story entitled, Love One Another!
A man was walking across a high bridge one day, and he saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. He immediately ran over and said, “Stop! Don't do it!”
“Why shouldn't I?” said the man poised to jump.
The first man answered, “Well, there's so much to live for!”
“Like what?” replied the other.
“Well, are you religious or atheist?” asked the first.
“Religious,” replied the second.
”Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?”
“Christian.”
“Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”
“Protestant.”
“Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”
“Baptist.”
“Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God, or Baptist Church of the Lord?”
“Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or Reformed Baptist Church of God?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915.”
“Die, you heretic!” said the first man, waving his finger, and he pushed the other man right off the bridge.
Humourous, maybe, but this story highlights the unfortunate truth that we have not done well when it comes to unity. Jesus said, “Love one another.” He prayed that we would be one. He did this because the very foundation of the Christian life is in the God who is one.
There are those who have not quite understood the Christian concept of trinity, and posited that Christianity does not have one God, but three. However, no orthodox Christian theologian would ever say that. The doctrine of the trinity is based completely on the oneness and unity of God. The Christian says wholeheartedly with our Jewish mother-tradition, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
The Christian also understands that the Lord God sent forth his Son into the world, and that there was an integral relationship between Son and Father. They were, and are, one. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 1, “The fullness of the deity was pleased to dwell” in Christ. “He is the image of the invisible God.” The early church struggled with references to Jesus in the sacred writings, some of which portrayed his humanity, and some his divinity. It forged the concepts together, and affirmed both the humanity and divinity of Christ, that the Son and Father were one, of the same substance: One God, and, together with the Spirit, three persons.
God was in Christ, and in John 17:21, Jesus prayed that those who believe “May all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us.” In verse 23 he said, “I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one.”
The oneness that exists between Father and Son is in those who believe. It is foundational. German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg wrote, “Since he is Lord of all who confess his name, communion among all Christians and their churches is a mandate integral to faithfulness.” We must be one.
But never mind the theological basis for unity. Practically, where there is disunity and division, the church's position in the world is severely weakened. It is weakened in the voice it could have on societal issues. When one Christian group says one thing, and another says something different, the world just throws up its hands and ignores the church saying, “If they can't get it together, why should we listen?”
Furthermore, when there is division or quarrelling, people stay away. We give them a great excuse to do so. They see the fighting, view us as hypocrites and say, “Why should we believe in that?” Indeed, many missionaries from the denominations that formed The United Church of Canada in the early days of the 20th century noted that their efforts were questioned in places like China for the very reason that they were not one. Some people noted Jesus' call for unity and the rivalry between different denominational missions and said, “We'll think about your Christian faith when you show us that you can truly follow your leader.” It is certainly noteworthy that Jesus' prayers for unity and love in John 17 also have a mission thrust. He said, “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, as one, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Unity gives us witness.
Can we achieve unity? Can we be united as Christians in this day and age? Can we have it now, with so many denominations and views? Some believe we can, and some see the flexibility of post-modern thought as providing the opening we need to achieve unity in the midst of diversity.
First, they tell us not to downplay the differences between Christians and denominations. We must recognize that we will never all want to worship alike. We will never all interpret the scriptures exactly the same way, or desire the same form of church governance and organization. But love and Christian unity can transcend these things.
Second, it is often said that we should appreciate the differences and what the various groups within the Christian faith bring to the table. Roman Catholics have a tremendous respect for the long history of the church and tradition. Anglicans inform us about the beauty that liturgy can have, and the value of the sacraments. Lutherans tell us of the value of faith and grace, Presbyterians of grace and the value of the lay person. Methodists remind Protestants that how one lives in Christ is important. Baptists, and evangelicals of whatever stripe, inform us of the need to enter into a personal relationship with Christ. Pentecostals remind us about the Holy Spirit, and show us that worship can be vibrant and alive. We are advised to get over the prejudices that would denigrate others just because they do things differently, or think differently than we do. We should look beyond these things to what we hold in common.
Long ago, Eusebius pointed to a number of beliefs Christians share. Whether we are Orthodox or Roman Catholic, Lutheran or Anglican, Presbyterian or Methodist, Baptist or Pentecostal, all of us believe that God the creator exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God sent his Son into the world, and that he suffered, died, rose and was exalted at the right hand of God the Father from whence he will come again. We all believe that God was at work in Christ, that we are to be a part of a local church, and that we are to live lives worthy of the gospel. We all believe God's Spirit lives in us and we can live lives of love and service to the world. All these things we hold in common, and perhaps more. In these things, we can unite. We can appreciate one another and show that by getting beyond differences in details, we are truly one. We desperately need to do so, for our real “battle” as the church is not with the denomination down the street, but with the world and ungodliness.
Christ calls the church to love and unity. As part of The United Church of Canada, we can take pride in the efforts of our forefathers and mothers to bring together several Protestant denominations. At TEMC, we can celebrate the way we work with other Churches on-the-Hill in a variety of ecumenical endeavours, including a joint food-bank for the poor and needy. But we need to keep going, for there are still vestiges of division among us. There are still prejudices felt toward some groups of Christians.
I think of an older Protestant lady I know who has a grudge against Catholics; how some Roman Catholics look at Protestants as not Christian; Methodists who cannot stand Presbyterians; Presbyterians who think Methodists err so much that they are outside the kingdom. I think of Baptists who think the good folks in the United Church are not saved; United Church people who denigrate evangelical Christians; and it goes on and on. We need to do better. We are called to be one, and to love one another.
In closing, I am always much moved by the story of Laszlo Tokes, who ministered to a small Hungarian congregation in Timosoara, Romania. Historically, Hungarians in Romania have been second class citizens: put down, downtrodden. In 1989, when Pastor Laszlo Tokes was served an eviction order because of his preaching and political leanings, his small ethnic Hungarian congregation - 50 or so members - gathered around his flat to stop the police from evicting him. When greater forces were brought in, something interesting happened. Christians from ethnic Romanian Churches set aside cultural differences, which were great, and joined their Hungarian brothers and sisters to block the way. One young man, Daniel Gavra, brought candles and the crowd lit them in a show of unity and belief. As Tokes looked out from his apartment, he said he knew the Spirit of God was with them. The solidarity around Tokes led to shouts of liberty and freedom from the oppression of the communist state. The crowds swelled even more, and when the forces were such that Tokes was removed from his flat, the crowd moved into the centre of town with their candles. President Ceausescu ordered his forces to fire and many were killed, but the crowd stood on in a show of unity.
Within days, the rule of Ceausescu was over. Romania was free. The end to his rule had an unlikely beginning, as Christians displayed a unity that went beyond national, cultural and political hatreds. Romanian Christians stood with Hungarian Christians; when Christians of whatever stripe are one, God is at work.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:3-6:
Be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.
This is a verbatim transcription of the original sermon.