Sometimes it’s nice to get a little affirmation that you might have pulled something worthwhile out of the Scripture for Sunday morning.  As I was getting a first look at this week’s text, I glanced at the notes from one of the Bible’s on my desk regarding what I had preached on yesterday.  The note said, “Did you notice the Pharisee used “I” five times in two sentences.  Jesus was condemning self-centered, prideful praying.”  All those “I’s” had stuck out to me as you know from yesterday’s message, although I hadn’t counted them.  It’s always easy to come up with stuff after the fact and perhaps I could have added that God is the great “I Am.”

Something else I shared with the Sunday School class was funny on the surface, but also worth thinking about.   On the sidebar of a website I sometimes use, it explains who had helped come up with the materials they offer saying, “The prayers were written by many pastors from across the denominational spectrum—Catholic, Christian, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc.”  Did you catch that second one?  

I feel like I’m holding a stone while standing in my glass house, but there is something to be said about denominations and Christianity.  Having been in Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal services regularly growing up, I never really noticed a difference as a kid.  For me the message at each place was the same, about how much God loved us, to the point he would send his Son to save us from our sin.   I was never caught up in doctrine, I didn’t even know what the word meant.  Perhaps that is part of what Jesus meant when he talked about the Kingdom of Heaven belonging to such as these (referring to children).  As kids we didn’t muddle the message.  As adults, we latch on to our preferred method or even politics as reasons we choose one denomination over another to the point our allegiance to God is wrapped up in an allegiance to what the sign in front of the church has on it.  We are putting a bit of “I” into our faith in God, aren’t we?  I can only worship God in those places where they identify as X, Y, or Z.   I can’t imagine that’s what God envisioned Christianity to be.

I don’t have the answers, but I will use a quote often attributed to Augustine, “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.”   I pray that all churches, affiliated and independent, can come together in numerous ways in the near future to tackle the many ills and struggles that need addressing in our communities…such essentials require unity.

Just the thoughts rolling around in the empty space above my shoulders on a Monday morning.  God bless each of you and I pray we see you Sunday.