City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

⁷ The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:7-11

¹⁵ This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

Ephesians 1:15

Reflection

If you’ve been paying attention to what is going on in the Christian circles online, you may have heard about Brother Joshua. This charlatan predicted (twice!) that the rapture was going to happen on September 23rd and October 6th. Many people were led astray by him and lost a lot of their possessions, thinking that the rapture was about to happen. This is contradictory to the Bible if one had read the correct passages, but people were still led astray.

Now, we are in the end times as Peter mentions in his letter, but God does not allow us to know the day for good reason. It is to our benefit. What Peter wants us to know is what we are to do in the present. That is to love one another, forgive each other, be hospitable, serve, and be good stewards with what has been given to us. We are to be a united church in the face of a fallen world because the light we shine is to help bring others into a relationship with Jesus.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught me a very important lesson in that unity for many people is meaningless if there are significant differences in political or cultural understanding of certain issues. Very seldom do we approach conversations as if to learn about another’s point of view rather than trying to shove our opinion down another’s person throat because we are “smarter” and more “enlightened.” In reality, it has created more division than anything in today’s churches.

A former member at City Life once told me about his time in Kuwait. There the enemy was very clear and present and the churches were few. Everyone understood that the political, cultural, and theological differences were secondary to the very real threat that was just outside the church doors. It brought Christians closer in unity and togetherness.

Application

Unity is often talked about, but seldom do we take the time to understand its true meaning. We get so easily offended and hurt if people do not agree with our political views or stances on social issues. It is enough to be a concerning trend in the church culture across the U.S. We let social media guide or thoughts and not our love for each other.

Spend the time praying to God and asking if there are any hurt relationships you have in church and learn to accept differences. And if needed, learn why they think the way that they do. Listen more than you speak.

Prayer

Father in heaven, I pray for unity in our church. Help me to find ways to mend relationships with others, to forgive them, to accept differences, and to build a culture of love. Let me learn how to work through conflict rather than to flee from it. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.