I had an amazing opportunity last week to attend the United Pursuit School of Worship. The ways God met me while there were both unexpected and lovely. Looking around our world, it’s obvious that we need unity in the church. That we need to be pushing past disagreements and into the unity of spirit that makes us the family of God, the body of Christ, the church. I thought I understood that, but as it turns out, I was wrong.

On the first morning, we started singing worship songs together and as I looked around the room, I saw a lot of people with their hands up, singing out loud (okay, I could relate to that) one girl was dancing like no one’s watching (a little out there for me, but alright) and a guy moved to tears and kneeling on the floor (ummm, what did I sign up for?) Next a speaker started talking about using the gifts of the Spirit to prophesy to each other (Ok, I’m out. I’d seen this practice used to cobble and control people, to strip them of their dignity, and I wanted no part of it.) But then the speaker asked everyone to pray quietly to themselves and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to them. This I was comfortable with, it’s been a part of my life since childhood. So I did, and He answered. I asked if I was really even supposed to be there and He reminded me that I know the Spirit and that because He is my counselor, I don’t have to be afraid of someone preaching something I don’t agree with. I could be suspicious of men, of their theology, but I don’t ever need to be suspicious of the Spirit. (Ahhh. Peace.) It’s part of the reason Jesus asked God to give us the Spirit to begin with.

“I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him not knows Him, You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”  –John 14:16-17

He is the Spirit of truth, I have no need to fear the diverse theologies of men, the Spirit is in me and will reveal truth. I know He does that, I’ve experienced it many times in my life. I remember times where I knew something was wrong before I knew the Bible verses that proved it wrong, times I could feel an amen to someone’s testimony without knowing what church denomination they belong to. Ultimately, I don’t have to be suspicious of anyone, because what can they say or do that isn’t known by our Sovereign God? Studying theology these last few years has strengthened and shaped my understanding, but it takes both parts, Word and Spirit to know the Lord. Developing both just multiplies joy as God brings you deeper knowledge of who He is.

Now, if I’m giving the impression that I walk around in bitter judgement all the time, that’s not so. These were small things that threw me out of my comfort zone. Out of my comfort zone is right where God meets me. It’s where I’m vulnerable enough to be teachable.

So I stayed. I learned SO MUCH. I felt a freedom I haven’t felt in a long time. I discovered that the guy moved to tears is one of the most genuine, level-headed, talented beyond belief worship leaders that I’ve ever met. The dancing girl spent a lot of years in misery as an atheist and is now JUST SO HAPPY to know Jesus that she can’t contain it, that she doesn’t want to contain it. The speaker with the different understanding of spiritual gifts than I have is all in for Jesus. He has a number of projects going to reach the lost and to substantially help rebuild lives torn apart by substance abuse. The fact that I might not agree with him on every issue matters exactly 0%. These are the family of God. My holding back in suspicion doesn’t keep them out, it keeps me out.

I was reminded that God meets each of us (myself included) wherever we are, with love, with kindness that leads us to repentance, not with a checklist for theological understanding, and we ought to love each other that way too, not with defenses up, but with open arms. Me, picking someone apart, thinking I’m showing love because I’m not SAYING the judgmental thoughts I’m THINKING, isn’t love. Actually listening to a different perspective and looking for truth in it, appreciating you for where you’re at and seeing how God’s love is made manifest in you….well then, how can I help but love you too? The prior mindset causes division and is the work of the enemy. While the latter attitude builds unity through community with love, and we know whose plan that is.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others.”  -Philippians 2:1-4

Don’t let the “like-minded” and “of one mind” parts of this verse scare you. We know that there are issues where the Bible is specific and clear and there are issues where it isn’t. Jesus, being the Son of God, sent to die for our sins so that we may be forgiven- that is a CLEAR AS DAY part of the Bible. Some things, like what using spiritual gifts should look like, are slightly less clear. This used to bug me. But God is showing me the wisdom in it. Because how easy would it be, if every point of behavior were clear, to believe that behavior is what makes you Christian? If the Bible were a step by step guide to deportment, we would miss the whole point, the relationship with our Father through Jesus Christ.

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”  -John 17:3

Please read that again. It just said point blank what eternal life is. The Bible being vague on some things isn’t an oversight, it’s an expression of God’s love and mercy, because we draw near to Him when we’re unsure, and HE is what is necessary for Christian life. Imagine the inevitable pride that knowing all things would manifest. We wouldn’t need the Spirit and we certainly wouldn’t need each other. What a sad and lonely day that would be. How quickly would we worship our shared theology rather than Theos Himself? Instead, it’s the friction of diverse understanding that magnetizes us to God. It should also attract us to one another. We need each other to remember that God doesn’t fit in a man made box of understanding. He’s just so much more. What a gift it is to be able to come together with this unified mind:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” -Ephesians 2:19-22

During a meeting with United Pursuit, they said this, “Never get to the point where you feel like your way is the best way- like you have the best part of Jesus.” Amen to that! We are the family of God. Bigger than your home church, bigger than the So Cal beach and the Oregon wilderness. Bigger even than the whole United States. What an honor to be built together with you, to be a dwelling place for our God. May He continue to give us love for one another as we go.

If you read my post Simple then you are familiar with United Pursuit already. You’re welcome. This song, Since Your Love, is another favorite of mine and is a fitting reminder of what’s really important. I’m posting it here to say thank you to United Pursuit for sharing that love so well.