We fence people out.

jw

After carefully contemplating all the risk, the neighbors decided that the chain link fence around their yard inhibited and limited their children, so they took it down. When the fence was up, the children played right up to the foot of the fence in safety, though a busy street was on the other side. However, once the fence was removed, the children moved back closer to the house and played. The fence had been their security. When we place adults behind chain link fences often we refer to them as prisoners. What brings freedom to one, brings imprisonment to another. To have freedom and to grant it to others is always intimidating.

In the Churches of God, our fences most often define us. I refer to them as our "identifying doctrines." These distinctives are our primary source of self-definition and identity. It's unfortunate that the outsider recognizes us by what we've emphasized in our preaching and teaching ("You're the ones who don't believe in music" or "Church of Christ! You're the only ones going to heaven." or "You're the ones fleeing to Petra"   You're the ones on Sunday Morning TV")   And not by what we have lived (fruits of the Spirit or the primary biblical doctrine of Christ).

Our fences have spawned more denominations than they have united in the 150 years of the American Restoration movement. Will we ever learn that is wrong to disparage each other, to caricature those who disagree with us as dishonest or stupid or both.  Such arrogance has no place among people who wear the name of Christ or the Father.  Are we destined to forever be a unity movement creating disunity?

Paul encouraged us to "speak the same thing"  as opposed to shouting our different party slogans from across the fence. The phrase "speak the same thing" is a political term describing "unity of allegiance." Our allegiance is not to a thought or a doctrine. These are the materials that build fences. Our allegiance is to the Being of Jesus Christ. He is the "rally pole."

He is the one unity is built upon... the Petra (the big Rock.)   It is only right that Christians "speak the same" slogans of allegiance to God and Jesus alone.  Jesus was crucified for all believers.  God or Jesus is not divided. Jesus is the common bond and He alone deserves our undivided allegiance.

Have you ever noticed? If someone seeks to dismantle any section of the fence, or to call for a different source   of identification, they are either venerated or vilified