In June we celebrate two years since the release of our book, DESIGNED FOR MORE... In a Deeply Divided World. Lucas' and my hope in writing Designed For More (Click Here for Amazon Listing) was to emphasize Jesus's passion (John 17): for the body of Christ to be united in love. Little did we realize where the state of our world would be today.
Our world needs our love to display the love of Christ for everyone, now more than ever. Now, just when we thought things couldn't get more divided in our nation and world, they do. It's hard to know what to think or do next. As the Church, we can be united in our value of each human life, created in God's own image, sacred and highly loved. And as we look to the days ahead, filled with division over Covid-19 and racial issues, may God grant us wisdom to love in both word and deed.
To give you a taste of the book I have include just a few excerpts that highlight our passion for unity and practical ways that we can move forward.
Check out the "Murmuration" metaphor in early chapters that give you the basis for practical steps to Christ's vision for unity.
Chapter 11 Radical Optimism
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. -Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
By now, you may be thinking, This is a nice message, but it's naive. There are two thousand years of negative church history, and I can share personal modern-day stories to show that unity is impossible (p. 189).
Admittedly, our stark reality is overwhelming and can produce doubt. We spend so much time, money, and energy to fight for peace, justice, and love, yet unity continually eludes us. We spend billions of dollars to establish entire governments that create laws toward attaining harmony. We want to diminish violence, crime, divorce, and cry out for racial reconciliation, unity, and of course the ever-elusive "reach across the aisle." Yet unity remains a voice continually around the next corner. This frustrating reality leaves us with a big question: Is the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17 really attainable, or is it just false hope? Truth be told, we can have all the relationships, strategy, and principles to follow, but if we do not first believe deep in our bones that unity is possible through the power of God, the movement will fall flat. Before we go any further, we need to fill our tanks with radical optimism.1 It is the fuel that will propel the vision when things get difficult.
This was the same sort of optimism that fueled Martin Luther King Jr. in the face of civil rights injustices. It was this same sort of optimism that set William Wilberforce ablaze to overturn the slave trade in England, and it was this perspective that permeated Nelson Mandela's spirit to bring about the anti-apartheid revolution in South Africa. These legends faced mountains, yet they knew change was possible! (pp. 189-190)
If radical optimism is the fuel for our unity movement, then cynicism is the fire line that stops the spread of the vision. The movement wants to spread like wildfire, but the enemy is relentlessly digging these lines between us, planting cynicism, and quickly the embers cool off. Think about the dedication of the firefighters to feel the entire fire area by hand! We must realize that this is the sort of ferocious determination that the enemy has to ensure that this fire of unity does not break free. The united people of God would be the most devastating blow to his purposes (p. 194).
Chapter 14 Let's Go!
BE STUBBORN ABOUT UNITY We have no excuse for being passive about Christ's vision. Unity is not optional. Our world is deeply divided and is crying out for answers. If the summing up of all things in heaven and earth is God's design through the cross (Ephesians 1), then we cannot for a moment go soft on this biblical imperative. The desire of our Lord should compel us to stay the course and fight for unity and collective movement (p. 238).
Being stubborn also means not giving up when things get tough. In the face of limiting factors, skeptics, and your weaker brothers and sisters, stay the course! Our world is waiting for bold leaders, willing to be ridiculed, even scorned because of their intense belief in Christ's vision for unity. Unity deeply matters to God, so why would we go in any direction other than God's design? LET'S GO! The orphan child and widow. The hungry family. The spiritually lost. The sick, outcast, and oppressed. oppressed. They are all waiting for the Church to live in God's greater design. For us to have widespread impact on the massive problems that afflict our world, we need the Christian community to explode into a Murmuration! How much longer must the world wait for the unleashing of the power of the Church? We do not have a single minute to waste. Our fellowship is one brimming with possibility, gifts, talents, and resources that a hurting world desperately needs. We are the light, but shining as individual rays in different directions, we have not yet caught the world's attention. Let's unite into one bright beacon shining bright in the darkness (pp. 239-240).
Ck out designedformorebook.com for Murmuration videos and free resources.
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Mike DeVito is the Southwest Regional Coordinator with a passion to help the church work together.