Hope

Yesterday at noon, I was privileged to be part of something that can only be described as transcendent. In the aftermath of the unspeakable tragedy in Charleston this week, Christians from across our city gathered to pray. To pray, to sing, to worship, and to join out hearts together. Citizens of Montgomery from across multiple churches, in a rich mixture of black and white, gathered to come before God as one. There was no message being sent. And that's what makes the message so powerful. If you are in God's kingdom - part of God's family - nothing else matters.

Over the course of an hour, we were led in prayers by ministers from across our city:

• A prayer for the nation by Rev. Lawson Bryan of First United Methodist Church
• A prayer for our state by Rev. Claude Shuford of Mount Zion AMEZ Church
• A prayer for forgiveness by Rev. James Turner of the Victory Through Faith Worship Center
• A prayer for the Church by Rev. Farrell Duncomb of St. Paul AME Church
• A prayer for reconciliation by Rev. Emmanuel Williams of Resurrection Catholic Church
• A prayer for the family by Rev. Brian Miller of Aldersgate United Methodist Church 
• And a prayer for unity by Rev. E. Baxter Morris of First Baptist, Ripley Street

And then our mayor shared some remarks leading into the singing of Amazing Grace.

You should have heard it!

The focus of the day was of course the victims of the Charleston shooting. It was not about us, not about our city, not about our problems. But I have to admit that I could not help thinking about those things. I saw hope, springing from the only place hope comes from.

From the the only answer to the madness around us - the gospel of Jesus the Messiah.

We have seen it in the way the victims' families have responded to their loss. (If you've ever read a link from my page, read this one!) And I saw it yesterday in the prayers of my fellow believers.

Love. In the face of hate. That's what we saw in Jesus at the cross, and it's a big part of what makes the Gospel different from religion.

And it's why evil will not win.

For that I'm thankful.

And hopeful.

Bind Us Together...all of us

There is only one God
There is only one King.
There is only one body
That is why we sing, 

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together,
Bind us together with love.

- Bind Us Together,  Bob Gillman, 1977

My song closes its traditional service with this song almost every week. It 's a great message. The Bible is very clear that followers of the Messiah Jesus as to love one another, and that it is his will for us to be brought to complete unity. (E.g., John 17:23)

I first learned the song while on a youth mission tour through Florida in 1984. We had a group of around 20 who were touring the Florida panhandle, presenting a musical program and gospel message at churches each night. Each time we would meet for prayer, we would sing this song. Because we were convinced that our love for each other was a key to our message.

But there was something different about this song when I heard it this last Sunday morning. For you see, most of my life I've sung it with a group of people who were almost all just like me. Culture, nationality, race...very homogeneous. Frankly, people that could be relatively easily to "bind together." We have a lot in common. 

Jesus said this: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" (Matthew 5:46-47) No, the true test of unity is when we go outside our comfort zone.

That's why it was so cool listening the the members of Frazer's International Bible Class sing. Watch the clip - it's worth the time:

Wow! As I listened to them, I thought, yes! Lord, bind us together with these brothers and sisters. And with others all over the world. And with the ones in Ethiopia that I will be seeing in a little over a week.

Bind us together...so that the world will know that Jesus is King.