[OBW]

We clearly do not hear from Jane enough.

Yes, Jesus prayed that we would be one. But even with the number of verses in that prayer, it was not the major theme of his teaching.

Paul had to tell more than one group to get along (at least one time due to consideration for who they were naturally, and another for fighting over preeminence of teachers) but even then it was more about the lack of righteousness in the position of separateness than in some overriding "call to be one."

Jesus spent virtually the whole "Sermon on the Mount" giving instructions in righteousness. The "Great Commandment" is about loving God and others — and all others, not just the Christian "brethren." And the outgrowth of this is the kind of righteousness that does not neglect a foreigner (to you) who is found wounded on the side of the road of life.

The commands for righteousness, for holiness, are many, are vocal, and are pointedly clear and direct. The call for oneness was in a prayer that one disciple overheard and recorded. Yes you can find other references that indicate unity and oneness, but they are also indirect. And the way I read "they will know you are my disciples . . ." is that when you are truly following Christ, you will become one and you will love one another and then the world will know.

And right now, there is more oneness between Baptists and Lutherans than there is among the splinters of the LRC. And, with exceptions, when you see individual Christians, they are not concerned with sect, or with "being one." They are just in agreement as Christians. They do not need to sing a song that goes "we are one (we are all made one) . . ." but are simply one in a way that does not need direction.

"Until we all arrive at the oneness of the ground, at a fully taken city, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Lee's teachings."

Wrong! We must arrive at oneness. And it is not of ground, but of faith. As our faith grows, it becomes more mature and recognizes that which is common among us. And it is not locality, it is faith. We share locality with heathen. We share faith with all who call on the Lord in every place, both theirs and ours.

If it was just about ground, there would be no arriving. It would be dictated. But while we may have a claim of faith from the first, it does grow. And as it grows, it becomes — arrives at being — one. But from the first steps of faith, we are called to be righteous. We are called to obey. The law that was in our flesh was not that law. It was the realization of the law without means. But we now have means.

All scripture is from God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. From it the people of God are completely equipped for the work to which they are called. (my paraphrase)

Nothing about oneness here. It is about righteousness, works, and obedience. Why do they keep singing this song? Besides the catchy tune, it is contrary to the teachings of Lee. But very instructive concerning the teachings of Christ.