Dear Well Partners and Friends, So, who is ready for summer? I used to love winter, and I am still ok with the cold but add the rain and it's a bit much for me. I spent some time out with one of our farmers last week and when I arrived, he joked and said,” We could really use some rain”. As I looked around, the only thing keeping us from sinking into the muddy mess, was that the ground was still frozen. It is kind of funny that we constantly hear that we can always use more rain. At least that is what “they” say. I am not sure who “they” are but I would probably put them in the same bucket as those that say we need unity in the church in times of disunity, for the sake of calling for unity. Don’t get me wrong, unity is important but it is not our unity with each other from which we gain strength; it is the unity that we have in the outward working of the gospel in our lives that strengthens and draws us together. The Apostle Paul spoke often of drawing all from Jesus. When he penned his letter to the Galatians he wrote, “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world”. He is saying everything that is good, perfect and accomplished comes from the power we receive through him in the gospel. There is no real strength, power, or even lasting unity in anything else. It can never be about us! Unity in the church can only be accomplished when we are aligned with the cross. Anything outside the unifying power of the gospel is a mere counterfeit of God's plan and doomed to fail. When we point to the gospel, what do we mean? What is the required action that comes from that thought? Where does unity come from in the gospel? Charles Spurgeon once said that “Churches that do not care for outsiders quickly suffer from disunity and strife. What unites a church completely is the calling out of all its forces for accomplishing the Redeemer’s grand objective. This passion for saving souls not only employs but also draws forth the strength of the church.” Calling for unity without understanding what really unifies us is like making a cake without eggs, butter, oil and flour. All you have is an empty bowl. A church that is not centered on reaching others with the life changing power of the gospel is not just empty like the bowl but worse, dying, if not dead already. I write this with a heavy heart because even with the excitement that is stirring with the launching of The Well, churches across America are closing their doors... permanently. This is happening to churches that were once on the frontlines, proclaiming the gospel boldly. What changed? What took them from a lighthouse in the community to an empty building up for sale. At some point, they became enamored with the ways of men, leaving God’s calling behind. When you leave out the most important ingredient, you won’t like what you end up with. When a church starts leaving God’s plan out of their plan, it doesn’t take long for unity to exit the building. The church only has one purpose. There are certainly ancillaries that go along and support the calling. It is not based on past experiences or current emotions. It can only be glorifying the creator through sharing the life changing power of the gospel. The Apostle Paul knew this. He did not find his purpose in his encounter on the road to Damascus. He found his purpose by understanding God’s purpose in the world. When you have a chance, go read Roman’s 15:14-21. Unity in Christ is obtained in keeping the gospel at the center. Paul said "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing." (Galatians 2:20-21) I pray that as we meet at The Well, we meet with unity in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That we always remember the grace he has given us and never set it aside at the expense of those who desperately need Jesus. Be Blessed, Pastor Doug
DEVOTIONAL PRAYER
A Prayer for Gospel-Centered Unity
God, we pray that you would unite us in things which truly matters and will prove eternal. Give us the discernment to separate the "God things" from the "human things" so that we can find unity in things that drive us to be more like you; to reach others more like you; and to love more like you. We will always be different people with different opinions, backgrounds, and interests, but help us to have the wisdom and patience with one another to remain unified in our passion to pursue you. In your name we pray, Amen.
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