Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Ephesians 6:23, 24

Peace, love, faith.  That is what Paul is praying for the believers in Ephesus. Our denomination is going through some challenging times just now.  It seems like the central issue is in the area of discipline and common belief.  The question is, what do you believe about marriage?  That is an important issue, and one that our western culture is forced to face.  We are splitting over that issue.  Churches are being torn apart, old conference affiliations are eroding.  It is not a happy moment for our denomination, that is for sure, at least on that level.

Maybe we should address brotherhood issues the way Paul advises.  In summary, we are brothers and sisters, and as such should live in peace with one another in this new society, the followers of the Lamb.

The thing that binds us together is love, not adherence to a particular creed, but a common love for Jesus Christ, an undying love.

Of course, there are times, certainly rare, when splitting is the right option.  After all, Our Anabaptist denomination split with the Roman Catholic Church 400 or so years ago.  That seems right.  But are the things that are splintering us these days important enough to split over?

If we are going to divide up, why not do so on central Biblical themes, like loving one another, believing with all our hearts that Jesus saves to the uttermost, that our hope is in eternal life, that our future is secure under the canopy of God’s love, that it does not matter one bit what culture we grew up in, what nation, what tribe, what history.  I fear that our present questions are somewhat peripheral.  Can we return to what matters, peace, love and faith?