POPE FRANCIS, MARTIN LUTHER AND THE QUEST FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

October 31, 2024 will mark the 507-year anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door and igniting the Protestant Reformation. It also presents another opportunity for Pope Francis to demonstrate that he is truly serious about unity. 

Pope Francis has made Christian unity a major theme of his administration. He has reached out to leaders of the Eastern Orthodox churches and to Protestant leaders, including those from the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement. A July 10, 2014 article in Charisma News carried the story of a cordial meeting of the pope with Kenneth Copeland and James Robison, which included prayer and high fives.

I commend Francis for his efforts, but if he is truly serious about Christian unity, he can highlight it with a clear and unequivocal statement on this 507-year anniversary of the Reformation. He can do this by lifting Martin Luther’s excommunication and removing his label as a heretic 

Luther, after all, was a devout Roman Catholic priest who never wanted to leave the Catholic Church. He wanted to see the Church reformed according to Scripture but was excommunicated and labeled a heretic for his efforts.

As a Professor of Bible and Theology at the University of Wittenberg, Luther began to see how far the medieval Catholic Church had moved away from the Gospel. He began to boldly teach that Scripture is our final authority, not the pope. He also taught that we are saved through faith in Christ alone apart from church appointed works and sacraments.

When he was ordered to stop teaching these doctrines, he refused, now convinced that he was on the side of Scripture. He was hauled before a religious court—the Diet of Worms—where he faced the highest dignitaries in the Church and the Emperor himself. He was ordered to recant his teachings, but refused, saying,

I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves. I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis. My conscience is captive to the Word of God; thus I cannot and will not recant anything, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand! God help me! Amen!"

Luther was declared a heretic and an order issued that his books were to be confiscated and burned. He would have been arrested and executed but for the protection of the powerful German prince, Frederick the Wise.

Luther did not recant because he was convinced that he was on the right side of God and history. The late Dr. Hans Kung, the most widely read Catholic theologian in the world today, agreed, saying,

And from a historical perspective there can be no doubt that it is not Luther but Rome which bears the chief responsibility for the way in which the dispute over the right way to salvation and practical reflection on the gospel very rapidly turned into a fundamental dispute over authority in the church and the infallibility of popes (Hyatt, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division, 54).

So, despite all the good efforts toward unity, Luther remains a heretic according to Catholic doctrine. And, according to Catholic doctrine, Protestant believers are not fully Christian but are “separated brethren” and Protestant churches are not true churches but mere “Christian communities.”

So, here are three things Pope Francis could do that would show the world he is truly serious about Christian unity.

1.    Remove Luther’s excommunication and label as a heretic.

2.    Recognize Protestant churches as true churches rather than mere “Christian communities.”

3.    Recognize Protestant believers as full and complete Christians through faith in Christ rather than “separated brethren.”

I do not expect any pope to declare numbers 2 and 3 for that would mean dispensing with the "hallowed" Roman Catholic Church doctrine that she is the only true church. However, acting on number one would show that there is an element of seriousness to the talk of love and Christian unity.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a historian, Bible teacher, and revivalist. This article was derived from the books, Infallible Pope: Key to Unity or Source of Division and The Charismatic Luther, both available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER

“Holding things together is not an easy thing to do” are the words from a popular country song from the 1960s. It is about a man who is fighting to “hold things together” after his wife has left him, leaving him to struggle alone to raise their two kids.

We all face challenges in life and sometimes it seems that life is flying apart, and we struggle to find a way to “hold things together.” Well, only Jesus can hold things together and this is made very clear by a reality in modern science and the words of Paul in his letter to the Colossians.

The Mystery of Dark Matter

Paul’s description in Colossians of the glorious risen Christ gives an answer to a dilemma that is baffling modern science, particularly in astronomy. It is what astronomers and astrophysicists call “Dark Matter.” Dark Matter is an unseen force that is holding the universe together. It cannot be seen, and astronomers don’t know what it is, but they say it is keeping the universe from flying apart.

Our solar system, for example, is being held together by the gravitational force of the sun. Since the gravitational force of an object depends on its size, this means that our sun is the perfect size to keep the planets in orbit. If the sun were smaller, the planets would wander off aimlessly into space.

Furthermore, our solar system, along with billions of stars and other celestial bodies, are rotating around the center of our Milky Way galaxy. And, beyond that, our Milky Way galaxy is part of a cluster of galaxies that are all rotating around another center.

But here is the dilemma! According to astrophysicists and astronomers, there is too much empty space in our universe for this to be happening. There is not nearly enough matter or “stuff” to produce enough gravity to keep everything from flying apart. There is some mysterious force that they cannot see or explain that is holding everything together. So, they call it “Dark Matter.”

Paul’s Answer for the Mystery of Dark Matter

Paul, in his portrayal of the transcendent majesty and power of the Risen Christ, gives a clear answer to this dilemma. He says that Jesus is not only the Image of the Invisible God and the Cause and Agent of Creation, but he also says, He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together. (Colossians 1:17, LB). The writer of Hebrews concurs, saying that Christ is upholding all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).

So, it is Jesus who is holding everything together. We must, however, distinguish between how He holds the universe together and how He will hold our life together. He holds the physical universe together by the direct action of His power on the heavenly bodies. Human beings, however, made in His image and likeness with free will, must voluntarily give Him that place of centrality in our lives.

He Will Hold Your Life Together

Just as the solar system is held together by the central position of the Sun, when we give the Son the place of centrality in our lives, we will find an invisible force, known as the Holy Spirit, working on our behalf and enabling us to “hold things together.”

In over 50 years of ministry and over 48 years of marriage, I have seen it happen again and again. Those times when it seemed that everything would fly apart, we have found that invisible force "holding things together." Yes! When we give Jesus that place of centrality in our lives, we will find the wisdom and power to “hold things together.”

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, revivalist, Bible teacher and ordained minister. This article was derived from his book, Discovering the Real Jesus, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

IT'S TIME TO CONFRONT THE "SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE" MYTH

On Wednesday June 19, Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana signed into law a bill requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools. Secular organizations like the ACLU immediately threatened lawsuits because, according to them, it violates the “separation of church and state.”

However, the phrase “Separation of Church and State” is nowhere to be found in America’s founding documents. It was never used by any of the Founders. It is a myth created by anti-Christian activists who want to purge the nation of its Christian heritage.

A Manipulation of Jefferson’s Words

The phrase is a manipulation of Jefferson’s words in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut dated January 1, 1802. In the letter, Jefferson addresses their concerns about how they will be treated in the new nation.

They had reason for concern for, throughout Europe, the Baptists had been an outlawed Christian sect, severely persecuted by the state and the state-sanctioned churches, both Catholic and Protestant. They were imprisoned and put to death because they refused to conform to the official church doctrines and practices imposed by the state.

In his response, Jefferson quoted that part of the Amendment which reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." He assured the Baptists that this meant that, in America, there would be “a wall of separation” that would protect them from the intrusion of the state.

Jefferson’s “wall of separation” was obviously unidirectional, in place to keep the government out of the church, not the other way around. His own actions affirm this, for as president, he took money from the federal treasury to pay for a missionary to the Kaskaskia Indian tribe and to build a church building for them in which to worship (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 149).

The View of the Founders is Clear

The words and deeds of the Founders make it clear that they never intended a “separation of church and state.” They did not want a national church like the nations of Europe since Constantine, but they believed that only Christianity provided the moral and intellectual underpinnings for a stable and prosperous nation.

Indeed, the day after ratifying the First Amendment, the Founders proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer. John Adams expressed the consensus of the Founders when he said, “Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other (Hyatt, 1726: TheYear that Defined America, 168).

Their position was confirmed by Joseph Story (1779-1845) who served as a Supreme Court Justice for thirty-four years from 1811-1845. Commenting on the First Amendment, Story said,

We are not to attribute this prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference in religion, and especially to Christianity, which none could hold in more reverence than the framers of the Constitution (Hyatt, 1726: TheYear that Defined America, 152).

The Summation of the Matter

Governor Jeff Landy is to be applauded for his courage and insight. The removal of prayer, Bible reading, and Christian symbols from the classrooms, beginning in 1963, has led to a deadly deterioration of both morals and academic accomplishment. America’s root problem is neither political nor economic but spiritual and moral. God bless Governor Jeff Landy for taking steps to get at the root of the problem.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

THE SENSATIONALIZING OF A USELESS MANUSCRIPT

Sensationalized headlines throughout the world introduced the story of a manuscript fragment discovered in the library at Humboldt University in Hamburg Germany. The headline of CBS News was typical, reading, “Newly deciphered manuscript is oldest written record of Jesus Christ's childhood, experts say.”

The truth is that this fragment is useless when it comes to obtaining real knowledge about Jesus. It is part of a work entitled The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which is a part of a group of writings that emerged after the first century containing fanciful stories and legends about Jesus. The authors of these spurious writings often used the name of an apostle or other famous person to add a sense of authenticity to their work.

These works are known as the Apocryphal New Testament and they include such books as The Protoevangelium, The Gospel of the Birth of Mary, The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, The Gospel of Thomas, The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and others.

Philip Yancey described these apocryphal gospels as “second-century counterparts to modern comic books about Superboy and Batgirl” (Hyatt, (Hyatt, Discovering the Real Jesus, 46-47). He is right!

For example, in The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, of which this fragment is a part, the boy Jesus makes clay pigeons but is rebuked by Joseph for making them on the Sabbath. Jesus then claps his hands, speaks to the pigeons, and they come to life and fly away. 

This spurious gospel also tells of a young boy running and bumping into Jesus who curses the boy and causes him to die. When the boys parents and others in the village complain to Joseph, Jesus strike them all with blindness.

If someone has read and studied the four Gospels, they will sense an immediate and distinct difference when reading these works. Their stories come across as fanciful and inauthentic. They do not have the genuine sense of the four Gospels, nor are they inspirational and faith-building.

These and other apocryphal writings were rejected by the earliest church fathers, such as Irenaeus (125-200), Tertullian (160-240), and others. In 367, Athanasius (298-373), Bishop of Alexandria, wrote a letter in which he warned of these apocryphal writings. He listed the 27 books of the New Testament that were already accepted throughout Christendom, and said,

Let no one add to these or take anything from them. No mention is to be made of the apocryphal works. They are the invention of heretics, who write according to their own will, and gratuitously assign and add to them dates so that, offering them as ancient writings, they may have an excuse for leading the simple astray (Hyatt, Discovering the Real Jesus, 47).

Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386) also warned of spurious gospels, saying,

Of the New Testament, there are only four gospels; for the rest are not genuine and are harmful. The Manicheans also wrote a “Gospel according to Thomas,” which, through the spurious odor of sanctity conferred by its title, corrupts the simple folk (Hyatt, Discovering the Real Jesus, 48).

The New Testament canon is one thing about which all sectors of Christianity agree. Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox all agree that the twenty-seven books of our New Testament comprise the canon and are authoritative for all followers of Christ.

Despite the evidence, modern Gnostics and New Age types tend to embrace these apocryphal writings since they undergird their own esoteric, mystical theories. They publish them with enticing titles, such as The Lost Books of the Bible, The Missing Books of the Bible, and The Jesus Papers. However, they are not lost or missing, and they tell us nothing about the real Jesus. They were rejected as spurious and inauthentic from the very beginning.

This article was derived from Discovering the Real Jesus by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt and is available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

WHY I CANNOT CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH

To my LGBTQ Friends,

I have no ill will toward you and I pray you will have the best life possible. However, I cannot celebrate your view of marriage and sexuality as I am convinced that our Creator, in the beginning, designed marriage to function between one man and one woman (Genesis 1-2). Jesus confirmed this original design in Matthew 19 where He pointed His listeners to this original model and quoted Genesis 2:24, saying,

Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh?” So then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:4-6).

In his Word Studies in the New Testament, the noted Greek scholar, Marvin R. Vincent, points out that Jesus says “what” God has joined together, rather than “those.” He also notes that the passage is in the aorist tense, pointing to an event at some past time. He, therefore, concludes that Jesus is not referring to an individual marriage, but "to the original ordinance of God at creation."

 The famous Biblical scholar, the late Dr. F.F. Bruce, arrived at the same conclusion. He says that Jesus is not here saying that every marriage is made in heaven but that the original design was made in heaven and should never be put asunder, separated, or discarded.

The LGBTQ view of marriage “puts asunder” this original marriage design and the results can only be harmful to individuals and society. So, although I respect you as a human being and desire your well-being, I cannot celebrate your view of marriage and sexuality.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, biblical scholar and historian. His books are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com,

THESE WORDS OF JESUS WERE LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME DURING A RECENT FIERY TRIAL OF FAITH

During an intense three-month battle for my health, the words of Jesus concerning the woman who had been bent over for 18 years became a significant source of faith and encouragement that catapulted me into complete victory (Luke 13:10-16). Jesus said that she “ought” to be healed and the Greek word from which “ought” is translated is edei, a very strong word that speaks of “necessity” and could be translated as “must.”

My Fiery Furnace

Beginning on November 22 of last year,  I was suddenly hit with a series of health challenges that began with a serious bladder infection followed by an enlarged prostate that completely blocked my urinal flow. This resulted in six visits to the ER, three visits to a urologist, and having six different catheters inserted before the urologist finally decided to do surgery. This was followed a urinary tract infection that hospitalized me for one week and delayed prostate surgery. This was followed by the Covid virus which delayed the surgery a second time. I finally had prostate surgery on February 27.

Now, three months later, I can testify that I am in better health than before going through this fiery furnace. My faith is also stronger, and I am more convinced than ever that God wants His people well. Jesus’ words to the bent-over woman in Luke 13:10-16, that she “ought” to be healed, played a major role in building my faith for a complete recovery.

Jesus Explained Why She “Ought” to be Healed

Beginning at Luke 13:10 we read the story of Jesus teaching in a synagogue one Sabbath day and a woman was there who had been bent over for eighteen years, caused by a spirit of infirmity. Jesus called out to her and said, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. He then laid His hands on her and she was made straight and began glorifying God.

The ruler of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He exhorted the people that there are six days for people to work and come and be healed on any of them, and not on the Sabbath day. Jesus responded by calling the ruler of the synagogue a “hypocrite” and then said,

Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?

Jesus, first of all, presents a logical argument for why this woman ought to be healed, and he uses a Hebrew form of argument known as Kal Vechomer, meaning “from the lighter to the heavier.” The lighter premise, which they all accepted, was that it was right to loose their animals from the stall on the Sabbath and lead them away to water. Jesus then moves them to the weightier conclusion by pointing out that if this is the case with animals, then how much more should this woman, whom Satan had bound, be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath day. This was a powerful Kal Vechomer argument.

Jesus then gave the Biblical basis for why she “ought” to be healed, pointing out that she was a "daughter of Abraham." As a daughter of Abraham, she was a rightful heir to the covenant blessings promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3), which obviously included healing.

That Abraham had a healing ministry was made clear when Abimelech, King of Gerar, took Sarah into his harem after Abraham told him Sarah was his sister. Suddenly, all the women of Abimelech’s family and kingdom became barren and unable to have children.

Genesis 20:7 tells of God appearing to Abimelech in a dream and rebuking him for taking Sarah. He then said to him, Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet and he will pray for you and you will live. Genesis 20:17 says, Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his female slaves, so they could have children again.

The words of Jesus concerning this woman, reveal that being a daughter of Abraham brought more than the mere right or privilege of being healed. It created a necessity and obligation. In the words of Jesus, she “ought” or “must” be loosed from the bondage of Satan on the Sabbath day.

I Told God that I “Ought” to be Healed

I recall lying in the hospital bed day after day with an intravenous tube inserted in my left arm and a catheter inserted up my urethral tube and unable to turn to the right or left. But in that condition, I meditated on this passage for hours and found my spirit lifted and my heart overflowing with gratitude and praise.

I also reminded myself and the Lord of Galatians 3:29, which reads, And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. I would say to the Lord,

Lord, I “ought” to be healed for I am a son of Abraham through faith in Jesus the Messiah. Healing is as much mine as the bent-over woman in Luke 13, and even more so, for through faith in Jesus, I am also a son of Almighty God. Lord, I “ought” to be healed!

God brough me through the urinary tract infections and Covid and I was able to go home, but still wearing a catheter. The day arrived for my surgery and Sue drove me to the hospital at 5:30 am with my heart at rest and my mind at peace. I was convinced that I “ought” to be healed. 

When the surgeon walked in I said to him, “I am here in great peace today, for I have great confidence in God and I have great confidence in you.” He responded by stepping to my bedside, taking my hand and praying in the name of Jesus for a successful procedure.

It was a successful procedure and I was released the following day. As I walked out the front door of the hospital, I felt that all of nature was praising God. Indeed, while in the hospital I had asked God if there was a particular Scripture for me for this time. Immediately, Isaiah 55:12 had come to mind, which reads,

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
The mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

That has been my experience. My heart today is overflowing with thanksgiving for what the Lord has done. At 77 years of age, I have returned to my daily two-mile prayer walks and I am in better health now than before this ordeal. I just had my regular Veterans Administration physical, and the doctor said I am doing great and have no need of any medications.  Hallelujah!

My Word to You

Having gone through this ordeal, I am more convinced than ever that God wants His people well: physically, mentally, financially, and in every area of life. So, if you are suffering ill health in any area of life, and you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, “You 'ought' to healed!”

Put your case in His hands. If you do not see an instantaneous miracle, don’t be discouraged. Delay does not mean denial. Mediate on His goodness and trust Him to show you His personalized plan for your healing. Trust him to guide you to the right medical people who will help you regain your health. 

Meditate on Luke 13:10-16. Read it over and over. Incorporate it into your conversations with God. Remind yourself continually that you too are a son or daughter of Abraham through faith in Jesus, and that you “ought to be healed!”

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, revivalist, and Bible teacher. His books on how America was birthed out of the Great Awakening are very timely for this critical time in the nation's history. 1726: The Year that Defined America, and others, are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

HOW YOU CAN BRING HEALING TO A DEEPLY DIVIDED AMERICA

The young 25-year-old Methodist preacher and revivalist, George Whitefield, arrived in America in 1738 with a prayer on his heart that “the 13 divided Colonies would become One Nation under God.” He was very aware of the deep lines of division and hatred that ran between the various groups, but he was hopeful that he would see those lines erased as he preached the message God had given him for America.

The Deep Divisions of Colonial America

Most do not realize the deep divisions that existed in colonial America between the Anglicans who settled Virginia, the Puritans who settled New England, the Baptists who settled Rhode Island, the Quakers who settled Pennsylvania, and so on.

Back in England, the Anglican Church, as the official state church, had harassed and imprisoned Puritans, Baptist, and Quakers, even putting some to death. In Virginia, the Anglicans made their church the “official” church of the colony and jailed Baptist preachers who ventured there to preach. Puritans detested Anglicans because of how they had been treated, but they persecuted both Quakers and Baptists: evicting them from their colony, jailing them, and even putting some to death. Baptists and Quakers did not get along and considered Puritans and Anglicans to be apostate Christians and part of the false, harlot church of Revelation.

It seemed that these groups could never reconcile. Their history was too long and their pain too deep. God, however, had an answer. His answer was a great, spiritual awakening based on the preaching of the gospel wherein Jesus was presented as the central object of faith.

Whitefield Confronts the Divisions

Whitefield had an oratorical gift that attracted thousands to his open-air meetings . In Philadelphia, he preached from the steps of the courthouse to crowds estimated at 10-12 thousand at a time the population of Philadelphia was around 13,000. According to Benjamin Franklin, the impact on the city was transformative. He wrote,

The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 79).

Whitefield addressed the divisions of the colonists head-on. In one of his sermons, for example, as he was preaching in the open air to thousands, representing various sects and denominations, he pretended to converse with Father Abraham, whom he pictured as looking over the banister of heaven at the gathered multitude.

Looking heavenward, Whitefield cried out, “Father Abraham, are there any Anglicans in heaven?”

The answer came back, “No, there are no Anglicans in heaven.”

“Father Abraham, are there any Puritans in heaven?”

“No, there are no Puritans in heaven.”

“Are there any Methodists in heaven?”

“No, there are no Methodists here either.”

“What about Baptists or Quakers?” 

“No, there are none of those here either.”

“Father Abraham,” cried Whitefield, “What kind of people are in heaven?”

The answer came back, “There are only Christians in heaven, only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

Whitefield then cried out, “Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having labels and to become Christians in deed and in truth” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 80-81)!

Sectarian Walls are Broken Down

Under the preaching of the Gospel and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, differences were melted and denominational walls were broken down. For the first time, the divided colonists began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny, “One Nation Under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

By his incessant travels, Whitefield made the Great Awakening America’s first national event. It was the first time the scattered colonists of various denominational and theological persuasions had participated together as one people in a single event.

Historian, Benjamin Hart, points out that when Whitefield visited America for the final time in 1770, even the Episcopal (Anglican) churches, which had initially rejected him, opened their doors to him. He goes on to say,

The true Spirit of Christ had dissolved sectarian differences. America considered itself to be a nation of Christians, pure and simple, as Whitefield noted with satisfaction. “Pulpits, hearts and affections,” he said, were opened to him and any preacher of whatever denomination who had a true Christian message to share (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 87-88).

The late Harvard professor, Perry Miller, surely had Whitefield in mind when he wrote, “The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a direct result of the preaching of the evangelists of the Great Awakening.” Through Whitefield’s ministry the Divided Colonies of America became the United States of America.

We Hold the Key

If we are to see deeply a divided modern America saved, it must begin with those who name the name of Christ. The promise of a national healing in II Chronicles 7:14 puts the responsibility squarely on our shoulders by listing certain conditions that are to be carried out by God’s people. The passage begins by saying, If My people, who are called by Name . . ..

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed for the unity of His followers, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may know that You sent Me. If there is to be any healing of the political, cultural, and ideological divisions in America, there must first be a healing of the deep divisions that exist in Christendom.

This does not mean we will all form one institution or organization. That has never been God’s plan. His plan is diversity but within a unity that is centered in Him. We will keep our distinctive labels as Baptist or Presbyterian or Assembly of God, but our primary label will be that of Christian—followers of Christ.

This happened in Colonial America to such an extent that a British-appointed governor in Connecticut wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 81).

What You Can Do

Be bold in your Christ-centered faith as you reach across denominational lines. Without compromising truth, show love to those who hold different doctrines and attend different churches than you. Don't waste your time with those who merely want to argue, but be willing to have a dialogue with those who are teachable and willing to listen. And in the midst of it all, ask God to pour out His Spirit as promised (Acts 2:17) and that another Great Awakening that will roll across the land like a giant tsunami wave,

 

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. For information on bringing his informative, inspiring “Save America” presentation to your , city, contact him at dreddiehyatt@gmail.com