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Tearing Down the Walls of Sectarianism within and between the (EKKLESIA), Churches of Christ, both locally and universally!
- Ronald Bainbridge
- Jul 1
- 13 min read
Updated: Aug 13
Positive Messages of
Encouragement and Hope!
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Presenting Positive Messages of
Encouragement and Hope!
Editor: Ron Bainbridge
Friends — I’m convinced, from Scripture,
that now is time to
Let the walls of Sectarianism come down
Within and between Churches of Christ,
Both Locally and Universally!
Brethren, "Our world is rapidly spiralling out of control as it increasingly turns away from our God, and His people are just as rapidly becoming targets of those who prefer Darkness to Light. Now is not the time, for the disciples of Jesus to be warring with one another over petty party preferences. It is time to “tear down these walls” of religious sectarianism and begin standing together as One Body (United in Him) against the evil that is threatening us and our God-given, blood-bought freedoms.
Brethren, let us forever forsake these feuding factions within the Family of our Father that only serve to diminish us and divide us. We are better than this ... and it’s time to start showing it!"
(Al Maxey)
In our new post and podcast, we explore how divisions within churches steal our witness and wound the body of Christ,
and how Humility, Repentance and Love
Can Restore our Shared Mission!
Today’s Message of Encouragement from:
TEARING DOWN THE WALLS
OF DIVISION
Within the (EKKLESIA),
Fellowship of Christians,
Both locally and universally!
To hear this ~Podcast~
Please click on the Link below:
Listen to the podcast
As presented on George Diek's Sunday Christian Breakfast show
on Great Southern FM 100.9 Albany every Sunday morning
at 20 to seven. 6 to 9am every Sunday.
Lyrics to:
"Let the Walls Come Down"
"Throughout the spirit realm, a fearsome battle rages
The fates of men and nations hang suspended in the fray
Walls designed by satan in the twilight of the ages
Now, stand as great divisions all across the world today
Walls not born of government nor strife amid the nations
But walls within our churches and between denominations
Stones of dry tradition carved in fear and laid in pride
Become a dismal prison to those withering inside
Chorus:
Let the walls come down
Let the walls come down
Let the walls that divide us
And hide us come down
If in Christ, we agree
Let us seek unity
Let the walls
Let the walls come down
Let the walls
Let the walls come down
The body is weak and powerless, crippled by division
The victim of a tragic and most cruel civil war
Brother fighting brother over culture and tradition
While countless lost and dying lie as casualties of war
It's time to end the foolishness of warring with each other
And kneel in true repentance that our union be restored
May we then, as brothers, rally round the cross of Jesus
And carry on with diligence the mission of our Lord
Chorus:
Oh, children of God
Oh, soon-to-be bride
Let us humble ourselves
And crucify pride
Throw off the flesh
And its pious facade
And unite in the name of God"
Songwriter: Jon Mohr.
We Are ONE!
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
What Does "We Are ONE!" by Acappella Mean?
"We Are One" centres on the idea that Christian unity serves as both a solution to world problems and a witness to non-believers. The song presents a world filled with suffering, deception, and moral confusion, then argues that visible unity among Christians could demonstrate God's love and draw people to faith.
Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics suggest that when true believers work together in harmony, their collective witness becomes powerful enough to transform hearts and save souls. The opening verse paints a stark picture, as it declares, "The children are crying, the nations are dying / And the preachers and teachers are lying," establishing a world in crisis where even religious leaders have failed.
This bleak scenario sets up the song's central proposition that unity among true believers could provide hope. The repeated refrain "The world will hear because we are one!" reinforces the connection between Christian unity and evangelistic effectiveness, suggesting that when true believers demonstrate love and cooperation, it creates a compelling testimony that can reach those who might otherwise remain sceptical of the faith.
Songwriter & Background
"We Are One" was written by George Pendergrass and Keith Lancaster and produced by George Pendergrass and Keith Lancaster. Released in 1994 as part of the album Acappella Gospel.
Brethren, "What the world must see is for you and me to be one (One, One). When people have turned to wounding and abusing themselves, it should tell you that something's wrong. We need the Lord; we need the Lord. The children are crying, the nations are dying, and the preachers and teachers are lying."
Is there a cure for this sin?"
We Are One in The Spirit!
To hear this~Song~
Please click on the Link below:
1. We are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
we are one in the Spirit,
we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity
will one day be restored
Refrain:
And they'll know we are Christians
by our Love! By our Love!
and they'll know we are Christians
by our Love!
2. We will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
we will walk with each other,
we will walk hand in hand,
and together we'll spread the news
that God is in our land.
(Refrain)
3. We will work with each other,
we will work side by side,
we will work with each other,
we will work side by side,
and we'll guard each one's dignity
and save each one's pride.
(Refrain)
4. All praise to the Father,
from whom all things come,
and all praise to Christ Jesus,
who is God's only Son,
and all praise to the Spirit,
who makes us one,
And they'll know we are Christians
by our Love! By our Love!
and they'll know we are Christians
by our Love!
To hear this~Song~
Please click on the Link below:
Scriptural Reference: JESUS SAID to HIS FATHER in HEAVEN: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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: 20-21)
In John 13:34-35, we read of Jesus saying to His disciples,
34 "I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another; just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. 35 By this shall all men and women know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ----
If you keep on showing love among yourselves.”
"A New Commandment I Give Unto You"
To hear this~Song~
Please click on the Link below:
Love within the church is a foundational principle that is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. It is a central theme in the New Testament, emphasising the importance of unity, compassion, and selflessness among true believers.
This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that reflect the character of Christ.
Love within the church is a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. It is a call to live out the teachings of Christ in a way that impacts both the church and the wider world. Through love, the church becomes a beacon of hope and a witness to the reality of God's kingdom on earth.
"A Common Love"
Praise and Harmony
Loving God
To hear this~Song~
Please click on the Link below:
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 states:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
"Loving God"
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
Loving God and one another is the central commandment of Christianity, reflecting God’s love in our actions toward Him and one another.
Biblical Foundation
Jesus emphasized this principle as The greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27) and, later, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34)
The apostle John reinforces that "anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister", highlighting that love for God is inseparable from love for others (1 John 4:21)
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
"The Family of God" is a gospel song by Bill and Gloria Gaither celebrating Christian faith as membership in a spiritual family, emphasising belonging, support, and personal transformation.
Meaning and Lyrics
The song portrays the Christian faith as a spiritual family in which believers are considered brothers and sisters, sharing joys and sorrows. It highlights personal transformation, using vivid imagery such as "from the door of an orphanage to the house of the King" and "rags to riches, weak to the strong," illustrating the shift from abandonment to spiritual adoption and strength through faith.
The lyrics repeatedly affirm cleansing and belonging: "I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! The Family of God!"
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
God's Family
The Collingsworth Family
Lyrics by Lanny Wolfe
To hear and view this
Please click on the Link below:
The song encourages listeners to acknowledge their grief together, reminding us that being part of God's family involves feeling each other's burdens and celebrating victories as a collective.
Verse 1:
We’re part of the family that’s been born again
Part of the family whose love knows no end
For Jesus has saved us and made us His own
Now we’re part of the family that’s on its way home.
Chorus:
And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry
Sometimes we share heartaches and sighs
Sometimes we dream together of how it will be
when we all get to Heaven, God’s family.
Verse 2:
When a brother meets sorrow we all feel his grief
And when he’s passed through the valley, we all feel relief
Together in sunshine, together in rain
Together in vict’ry through His precious name.
Verse 3:
And though some go before us, we’ll all meet again
Just inside the city when we enter in
There’ll be no more parting, with Jesus we’ll be
Together forever, God’s family.
Chorus:
And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry
Sometimes we share heartaches and sighs
Sometimes we dream together of how it will be
when we all get to Heaven, God's family.
In conclusion, and for your consideration,
we would like to share the following article,
written by Phil Ware:
Unity?!
Where do we begin the work of genuine unity?
[Jesus prayed] "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father - that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21 NLT)
Unity, empowered by love, is that ever-elusive characteristic that Jesus prayed would define his followers (John 13:34-35; John 17:1-26). Jesus' prayer for his followers’ unity emphasised two primary results of that unity.
First, Jesus prayed that the world would believe that the Father had sent Jesus to earth (John 17:21).
Second, he prayed this unity would show that the Father loved both the Son and his followers (John 17:23). Jesus prayed his prayer for unity and protection for his followers shortly before being arrested, falsely tried, and crucified. In other words, this unity was the great passion of his last few hours before his death!
We should not be surprised, then, that the great battle in the early life of the church was for unity. The collision of a faith born in Judaism and the heritage of the Old Covenant of God with Israel as the Jesus movement transitioned into the Gentile world of paganism must not be underestimated.
The future of the Jesus movement - The passion Jesus had, for unity among his followers - all hinged on the hugely important meeting of Jewish Christians, their elders, the apostles, and other church leaders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-41).
What would be the basis of unity? Did the Gentiles have to keep the Law of Moses? Would the signs and symbols of Judaism be required of them? What would faithful Jews have to give up to maintain this fellowship?
How could these widely differing peoples, who all called themselves followers of Jesus, share common table fellowship as well as the weekly fellowship of the Lord’s Supper? These and a host of other practical questions were on the line as they met.
What can we learn from this meeting?
I’d like to share some things I believe I’ve learned about maintaining unity from this crucial event in the lives of the early church.
(We're also asking you to share some of your thoughts on unity, as well, on my blog!)
The whole discussion was handled in the open with church leaders and church members - nothing was hidden, and there were no “backroom deals" by a group who considered themselves the power brokers of the church (Acts 15:6; Acts 15:22).
The issue was discussed respectfully. Each group listened to the others, and they focused on what God had accomplished among them and the implications of these things (Acts 15:12-13).
The truth of Scripture was honestly used to evaluate what had happened (Acts 15:13-18).
The conclusions, while definitely believed to be God-inspired, were shared with genuine humility (Acts 15:19; Acts 15:23-25).
The conclusions were clear and simply articulated, requiring certain moral standards and certain social accommodations to the Jewish way of life learned from Moses by Gentile Christians while calling on Jewish Christians to welcome their new brothers and sisters in Christ into God’s family without them having to fully become Jewish proselytes (Acts 15:19-21)
It is clear that the sexual morality focus was universally required in the new life of all Christians, but that the food restrictions were applied primarily in the regions where Jews and Gentiles regularly had fellowship with one another in the early days of the church.
Friends, I believe that a careful reading of
1 Corinthians 6:1 - 10:33 and Romans 12:1 - 15:13 give similar, but not the same guidelines on these matters in regions mostly characterised by Gentile Christians.
In addition to a letter to explain the basis of fellowship, real people representing both "sides" of the concern were sent with this letter to communicate and demonstrate this unity in person
(Acts 15:22).
There was great joy in the celebration of a clear foundation for unity among believers with radically different backgrounds who built their new lives together in Jesus (Acts 15:30-31).
Unity doesn’t mean, however, that we will always agree on everything all the time. Paul and Barnabas' sharp disagreement on mission strategy that centred on the use of John Mark is a great reminder that unity does not mean uniformity in everything
Paul’s respect for Barnabas (1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1-9) and Paul’s later use of John Mark (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24;
2 Timothy 4:11) all testify to the importance of seeing ourselves as friends and partners in the Lord even after we have disagreements over strategy, procedure, and people.
Working toward unity among Jesus’ followers today is an awesome and seemingly insurmountable challenge!
May each of Us Seriously work toward fulfilling the Passionate Prayer
and Earnest Desire of Jesus!
John 17:1-23
As denominational brand name loyalty continues to diminish, I pray that we can turn back to Scripture and seriously work toward this passionate desire of Jesus for his followers. Clearly, other Scriptures must be applied to these principles
(e.g., Ephesians 4:1-16; the book of 1 John)We must commit to sharing our dying Saviour's passion for unity.
In a world increasingly without Jesus, there will not be enough light to illuminate, the darkest corners, if we do not find a better way to live out the unity our Lord so desires to see in us, his followers.
In Jesus' prayer to His Father (our Father, in heaven), Jesus said:"I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are - I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began!" (John 17:22-24)
About the Author of this article on:
Unity?!
Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners, and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God's Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books and daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Please click on the Link below:
40 POWERFUL BIBLE VERSES
ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY IN CHRIST:
STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
One Body, One Spirit
Ephesians 4 & 1 Corinthians 12
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
We Are One in Christ
Powerful Christian Unity Worship Song
(Body of Christ Anthem)
To hear and view this
~Video~
Please click on the Link below:
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What we have shared today,
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