I know John Lennon popularized this imagine "ideology" with his song of the same title. I admit it's an incredibly catchy tune, but today I'm inclined to think more about the words than I am the music. I imagine (pun intended) that Lennon saw this idealistic picture of a world that he believed could be. A world without heaven or hell. A world with no political boundaries or borders. A world without religion. A world with no personal possessions, no greed, no hunger... Wow! John was no doubt an idealist, and while his intentions may have been honorable, his premise was so completely flawed as to make his "Imagined" dream an impossibility.
You see, from the first line of the song John missed the boat. There is a heaven and there is a hell, no matter how hard you try to imagine that there isn't. There is a God and there is a devil, so there will always be religion. There will always be poverty, pain, greed, hunger and all the other human characteristics that make us inherently flawed humans. Craig Groeschel posted a blog today that speaks to the idea of Jesus' prayer in the book of John, asking that the Church would be One. Building off that idea, here are some things that I like to imagine, in the hopes that one day we'll truly wake up to the unchanging truth of Jesus' prayer.
Imagine a Church that was united. Imagine a Church that was culturally, racially and generationally diverse, yet united as One. Imagine a Church that was committted to One purpose (His purpose). That would be the Church that looks most like the heaven John Lennon imagines doesn't exist. That would be the church whose voice would be relevant in the larger society. That would be the Church that would speak purposefully and passionately to the hearts of the lost, the hurting and the next generation. That would be the Church that Jesus promised He would build, and against which the gates of hell would not prevail. Imagine the possibilities...
7 comments:
change is good
No doubt change is good. Especially change that transforms whole communities for the better. Having said that... are you for real? Is this Steve Ballmer or some cruel impersonator out to destroy your rep?
Jesus never set up denominations, he only asked of us two things...to Love him, and to Love other people. It's about relationship w/ him, not this or that theology that seperates so many in the church...I recently read "The Shack," and the biggest thing I got out of it is that our purpose is "relationship" the way the Triune God has relationship. Imagine what it would be like to be joined together in Love, the way HE designed.
You know God is working something out in the heavenly realm when bloggers seem united in theme. I wrote a similar blog this past Sunday (take a peak on Tuesday). I love the message when the truth is revealed and not concealed to make people more comfortable. :)
John Lennon's world doesn't exist but a united Church one day will.
I agree with Hope, God must be working on something big. This is the 3rd word I've heard on UNITY in just a few days-each from completely different sources! Not just a coincidence I'm thinking-can't wait for whatever's next!-TK
Ash, well spoken.
Hope, why am I not surprised? :)
Joey, I hear you bro. and we'll be part of that amazing miracle.
Gapper, it's the same Spirit at work in the Body universally. :)
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