"...There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 3:28

Something I was amazed by and then took for granted in my two years in Senegal was the way the different denominations work together to reach the lost. And it wasn't just in Senegal...I've seen it everywhere I have gone outside of the US. Here is the thing they seem to really understand about God that I think we lack here in the States (granted, I'm speaking in broad terms here!)...that God doesn't look down and see Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Evangelical-Free's, or Methodists...He sees people who either love Him and are covered by the blood of His Son or those who do not love Him and have chosen not to be covered by His Son. So the thing that has been heavy on my heart is this: Why can't we celebrate what God is doing all around the world (including in the US) regardless of what denomination or group of people He is choosing to work through?

A friend of mine recently relayed a story to me about a church who has seemingly fallen into the trap of being caught up with their name rather than that of Christ and I was really saddened because of two things. First, there was a huge opportunity missed for God to be praised by that congregation. Second, I fear they are walking on dangerous ground when drawing such divisions. I say this not to judge them, but to realize my own responsibility to be praying for the leadership of my own churches.

Hear what I am not saying...I am not saying that denominations are bad, I realize that there are small differences that our consciences allow for. I'm simply saying that regardless of what "subtitle" we call ourselves, our primary title is that of "Followers of Christ"...we are sisters and brothers if we share that saving faith in Jesus Christ. So why can we not seem to get beyond all the names and pull together in order to bring the maximum glory to God that we can? That's what it is all about. It's not about us...it's about Him. If God is working, people should be made aware, regardless of who He is doing it through, so that He may be praised and we may be encouraged and pull together as His children more strongly.

I will get off my soap box now, please forgive me...this is just something that has been glaring at me since I returned to the States in '05 and has recently been brought to the surface. There is too much work to be done in the world for us not to pull together as believers and encourage one another and to learn from one another...and to praise God in whatever He is doing. We in the West get so caught up in titles and divisions...which God doesn't even recognize...I just long for our churches and our people to see it through His eyes...and to bring Him the glory He deserves.