A great feature of the Christian Ashram ministry is our desire to remove barriers that would keep us from fully experiencing fellowship with God, fellowship with others, and fellowship within ourselves. There are certain titles we use to establish barriers of US and THEM in our lives. This bleeds over into the barriers we see within the Body of Christ where political and denominational barriers separate us and too often keep us from experiencing the unity Jesus desired when he prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).
In Ephesians 2:14-16 we read, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” The barrier in Paul’s writing was the division between the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul is bringing to the forefront the Truth of Jesus’ death on the cross was to not separate people, but to bring about a unity centered on the reality of His cross. The peace found not only removes the barrier between God and humanity (the forgiveness of sins), but also creates a new creation of one body, which is all followers of Jesus—both Jew and Gentile.
The solution to division within our nation and within our world begins at the foot of the cross and begins within the lives of those who seek to follow Jesus. It calls for us to lay down any division between our denominations and seek to find unity within our shared belief that “Jesus is Lord.” This Jesus focused unity will not equate to conformity where all people worship exactly the same or place emphasis on the exact same discipleship principles—it is a unity based in Jesus where we find peace to live together as one body to proclaim the Truth of the Kingdom of God. When the Church experiences this peace of unity, it will surely overflow into our communities and into the world. Jesus is our Peace.
Prayer: Lord, my heart breaks with the disunity within the Body of Christ. I desire the peace of unity that only you can bring. Come Holy Spirit into our lives, breaking down the barriers we have placed to separate us and give us peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.