Unity and Harmony

“…put on love, which binds all things together in perfect unity (harmony).”

Colossians 3:14

Dear Friends,

There is a charge in the wedding ceremony that many couples choose from Colossians which talks about unity or harmony.

I don’t know of any couples who go through their marriage agreeing on every single thing that comes up, and yet they remain married. In music I think you can have different voices that come together and “harmonize” and the result is beautiful sound.

This past Saturday at our Presbytery meeting the elder and minister commissioners there were presented with a covenant that talked about mutual forbearance. Our congregations can have differing ideas about some theological and cultural issues and still be brothers and sisters in Christ… “which binds us together in perfect harmony.”

As a pastor and as moderator of the church session I would not want everyone to ALWAYS agree with me. That would not be healthy for the church. Sermons should challenge us and make us think. Each of us must rely on the holy spirit as we discern how to live out our faith. We should speak up and discuss our differences but not expect everyone to think the same way ALL the time. In our reformed tradition we have what we call essential tenets… these are the things we DO agree on but these are not the issues that usually cause disunity in the church or in the greater community.

Now is an opportune time for the church to model how folks with differing opinions can live together in perfect harmony.

It is a joy to be your pastor.

Mike