Everything Else is Noise

Scripture: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Observation: Paul's encouragement for unity in the church is based on this principle ... that there is one collection of true beliefs that form the foundation of the Christian way. There is one universal Church, all empowered by the same Holy Spirit, and by whom we all have the same, singular hope, which is salvation through faith in Jesus. It is by that hope that we agree Jesus is the singular Lord and Messiah, in whom we place are faith a pledged that faith through baptism. And Jesus as Messiah is, of course, the son of the one true God, creator of heaven and earth.

In one (albeit a little run-on) sentence, Paul defines the "non-negotiables" of faith. Add to this list one more item - the bible as the unerring and divinely spoken word of God - and that basically covers it. Everything else is noise.

Application: So, given everything else is noise, why is that noise so loud sometimes? Why does there exist factions that would declare a false doctrine that contradicts these basics, and they are the ones working so hard to be heard? Why do some Christians yell and scream about the nature of certain sins, and get in fights with other members of their church about how to respond to such sins?

This isn't true of all, but there remains a vocal component of believers who want to shout about secondary issues. And it feels like those are the ones on Youtube talking about topics ranging from transgenderism to the source of the Nephilim to the rapture timing. Throw the 'American politics' wrapper around all of that, and it becomes more than noise ... it becomes a clanging gong or a squeaky fence gate, which doesn't mean anything as is just irritating.

Let's unify around, talk about, and teach others of, the non-negotiables, and most notably the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, as my family remains ill this week, may your healing come upon us. As my family remains stressed this week, may your peace come upon us. As my family remains concerned with the world this week, may your opportunities to speak 'Christ crucified' to others come before us. Amen.