There is no shortage of divisiveness in the world. You name it, there is always something over which to fight and disagree. We can find any and all reasons to build walls and separate ourselves from one another. Even in church practices we find ways to argue about leadership, doctrinal differences, denominational differences, practices in baptism and communion, you name it. Whatever it is, we can turn anything into a source of pride, fostering a “we’re right, you’re wrong” approach to life and belief. What then might it be that can bring people together better than anything?
In the first half of the 1500’s, there was division in the church in Europe. I’m not talking about the reformation; I’m talking about in the primary church itself. The division was caused by the Word of God. The Bible was read only in Latin, so the common people were divided from the clergy who held the power. Well in a little country we know as Germany, that was about to change. A man name Martin Luther brought the people together with a Bible. A Bible translated in a common language. Though it was more incredible than just that. See, there were a lot of different languages spoken across Germany. The people were divided in everyday life because they didn’t have a common language, until Luther’s Bible.
Luther translated and produced a common book in a single language that was more readily available to all people. That common book and single language created the opportunity for everybody to use the same language, bridging divides and coming together in unity, essentially establishing an entire nation, all founded on one message: The Word of God. What an incredible testimony to the power of God’s Word. It has done nothing short of create entire nations. “Luther in a single blow shattered the edifice of European Catholicism and in the bargain created the modern German language, which in turn effectively created the German people. Christendom was cleft in twain, and out of the earth beside it sprang the Deutsche Volk [German People]”[1]
There is such beauty and unity when people come together in scripture. When we open the pages of scripture, we expose ourselves to raw divine truth. There is no pride in the honest rendering of the Word, no discord, no ill will. Only broken people hearing the truth of How God loves them. And what a message it is. A message that promotes the most diverse groups possible to find level ground at the cross. There is only one thing that can bring unity, and He gave us His written Word to get it done.
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[1] Metaxas, E. (2011). Bonhoeffer: pastor, martyr, prophet, spy. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
