Birds of a Feather

By now you have probably figured out that I love the outdoors. My granddaddy always told me that a bad day fishing beats a good day at work...though I never knew him to have a bad day fishing.

The geese were sitting on the lake again this morning. It was quite impressive to see the Canada's all together and the snow geese on the other side also together. The division was very visible and caused me to consider how we Christians divide ourselves.

You see the geese were all on the same pond, feeding from the same schools of fish, and headed for the same destination. Yet in spite of all these commonalities, they did not mix with the other species.

I suppose this is just natural, the differences make us uncomfortable, and we seek comfort. Denominational differences, such as doctrine, tradition, and style separate members of the body of Christ. We tend to stay within the flock that we are comfortable with. At times we become very protective of our differences to the point of conflict. While there is nothing wrong with worshipping with those with whom you have things in common, we must always remember that we are, as the church, a single branch grafted into the vine. If we can agree that salvation is only through the shed blood and resurrection of Christ, and that this is a gift given to us, not earned, then we are of the same branch regardless of what we call ourselves.

With this in mind, we must also remember that we are also headed for the same destination, and swimming in the same pond. Our commission is clear, 'go into all the world and preach the gospel'.

We must be about the fathers business.