You may have read last week’s post about Feed the Hunger’s enrichment retreat at Myrtle Beach. We all agreed that it was a great time in the Lord for both staff and volunteer Packathon coordinators, and we’re looking forward to the next time we can host another such event.
For me, one of the most memorable parts of the retreat was the time of praise and worship we had at the beginning of certain sessions. We were in a room with about 45 people, representing over a dozen Packathon locations along with several staff and board families, and everyone was worshiping in their own style. Some had hands raised, some had eyes closed, some were looking up, and some were contemplating the words on the screen.
But the most striking thing to me was that those from Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, and non-denominational backgrounds were all singing together and praising God. This might not seem like a big deal to you, but as someone who grew up a third-generation Baptist (and certainly not ashamed of that!), I honestly didn’t give much thought to the idea that believers from other traditions could sing the same songs and not fight over denominational details.
It was refreshing to think that the purpose for which we were gathered – to more effectively follow the command of Jesus to feed spiritual and physical hunger in the needy – transcended the often insignificant differences that keep churches from cooperating for the kingdom of God. The motto of the Moravian Church perfectly encapsulates my feelings about the cooperation and fellowship I witnessed at the retreat: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love.”
If Christians (and churches) from different backgrounds worked together, not compromising on the essentials of our faith, we would be astonished at what we could accomplish in the power of Jesus’ Name, whether through Feed the Hunger or any other ministry outlet. In a small way, what I witnessed at the retreat is a preview of what it will be like in eternity with other believers. Despite all the jokes we tell about those “other” Christians, I look forward to seeing saints from every God-fearing, Jesus-glorifying church and denomination in heaven with Him.
To expand this thought a little further, many American Christians will be shocked to learn that they are not the majority in the heavenly ranks. Not even close! If you compare the number of self-identifying Christians in America (more than 220 million, perhaps a far too generous number) with the Christian population of the rest of the world (approximately 2.2 billion), you will find that for every one American Christian, there are nine other believers who likely do not look, sound, or worship as we do. And that doesn’t even count the untold number of believers who lived and died before America existed!
Therefore, we should be prepared to join our Christian brothers and sisters in heaven as humble participants in worshiping God, not as defiant members of the “right” side. As Feed the Hunger proclaims to those in our partner programs around the world, Jesus died for all people, and His salvation is freely available. We didn’t come up with that idea – all you have to do is look in Scripture to see that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is praised for saving believers from all nations:
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:9-10
I challenge you to invite people from different backgrounds (especially non-believers who haven’t heard the gospel) to a Packathon or another activity where they can hear the good news of Jesus and join the family of God that will last forever!
Matthew Byrd | Ministry Advancement Team
