“In Christ There is No East or West” (ELW 650)
Devotion
In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one community of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts ev'rywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith,
whate'er your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
It seems like human nature to define ourselves by what divides and distinguishes us. We group together based on our similarities in race, gender, creed, work, family status, the list goes on. It's a false guarantee that we will understand one another, that we can share some common experiences and that we will be "safe." The list of what unifies us as humanity is much shorter. We all seek the basic necessities of life: food and clothing, shelter and safety, belonging and love.
What unifies us as Christians is one name: Christ. We are all gathered in from the outskirts of life, brought close to one another because of God’s love for us, and turned into one community defined by that love. As you prepare your hearts for worship, take time to look past the things that separate you from another and risk seeing them instead as your fellow saint.
Prayer
Church is not always a safe place, God. You're asking a lot when it comes to being a community in Christ. Help me trust these people I gather with. Help me forgive them and respect them and love them as you do in Christ. Amen.