Harmony.

Our task is to bring the various factions of God's house into harmony.

"'In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places.'"  John 14:2a (NRSV)

One will not win out over another.

One will not dominate the others.

This does not only refer to the various denominations of Christianity but to all the world's religions.

How can God's house stand if it is divided against itself?

The various religions are like the colors of the spectrum - they all derive from the white light of God.  They do not clash but blend harmoniously one into another.

While any religion claims sole access to God His house will not be in harmony.
For they are excluding all others.

While one religion claims the supreme position of mother God's house will not be in harmony.
For they are dominating all others.

Each religion must be equal for harmony to be achieved.
This will require tolerance, goodwill, and flexibility.
Not the animosity and rigidity that comes from fear.

It will require us to get to the heart of our religion.
Not to remain hung up on the details.

Just as the interpretation of scripture requires us to find the inner meaning of each passage and not get hung up on the words.

Will we remain paddling in the shallows or will we return to the deep?

For it is only at the deeper level, when we have let go of the details of worship, that the world's religions will find harmony.


{Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]