Unity in Faith

I have been watching the funeral of Senator Kennedy today. The funeral mass was beautiful. Wonderful music, touching prayers and well spoken eulogies. It is amazing that one person can touch so many lives. He definitely had a life that was well lived.

Another thing that struck me in watching it was the unity in faith that was displayed. It was a traditional Catholic mass but I know that not everyone who attended was Catholic. I know that President and Mrs. Obama are Protestant as are the Clintons, Bushs, Carters and, I think the Bidens. Yet there was the church…packed from the front to the back. Everyone singing and praying and worshiping together. In unity.

I have never attended a Catholic mass but the service was still familiar to me. It was liturgical, as are Lutheran services. It followed the same format as a Lutheran services. Yes, there were minor differences. Protestants end the Lord’s Prayer with “for Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, from now until forever. Amen”. Catholics end the prayer with “deliver us from evil.”. Another difference was the incense at the end of the service. Lutherans don’t use incense

But those are very minor differences. As my friends who are Catholic and I have noticed, we have much more in common than we have differences. Yet the minor differences divide us enough that we can’t seem to really get along well enough to worship together. We can socialize but not worship.

At the ELCA church wide assembly last week, there were a number of measures passed that were quite controversial. The issue of homosexuality was discussed, prayed over and the resolution passed to accept gay pastors in committed relationships. Also that we would bless homosexual relationships, if a church would want to do that. The other major issue was that the ELCA and the Methodist church would be in communion together. Meaning our pastors can officiate at their services and their pastors can officiate at ours.

These issues are causing great controversy at my church. We have already lost two very active members. There is a possibility more will follow. It is a difficult time and we have a number of prayers for peace and unity and understanding being offered. I’m sure the church will come through this and things will eventually settle down. But, in the mean time, I am seeing friends being conflicted and I am losing friends. Yeah, I know they are still living right there, ten minutes from my house. But I won’t be worshiping with them every weekend and seeing them at other events at church. It is very sad for me. I understand but it is still very sad.

I guess what I really have trouble with is that we are all children of God. We all have the same basic faith. What difference does it make if one church wants to use incense and pray to saints and we don’t? What difference does it make if some churches want to bless same-sex marriages and others do not? What difference does any of it make? We are unified in Christ. We are taught by Christ to love one another as He as loved us. So why can’t we just get along? Accept our different beliefs and worship God together? I wouldn’t mind. And I don’t think God will mind either. As a matter of fact, I think He would love it beyond measure, just as He loves us beyond measure.