Today’s ONE THING: When a Crowd Follows God

This evening wraps up the third day of the 74^th General Assembly of the Church of God.  I have spent what seems an eternity in business sessions over these three days.  Being a part of the Ordain Bishop’s Council is one of the most unusual, taxing and yet rewarding things I have ever done.

It must be remembered that the Church of God is a true democracy (one vote per member).  The Ordain Bishop’s Council of which I have been a part these last three days has about 1500 – 2000 members at any given meeting.  Can you imagine trying to get two thousand people agreeing on anything!?

Yet that is exactly what we have done over these last three days.  There have been some moments of heated debate.  There were moments that emotions ran high and there were times that we were deeply divided.  However, in the end, amazingly, we managed to reach reasonable and beneficial compromises.  The outrageous motions were either amended or voted down and the motions that divided us were perfected until there was a consensus.

I thought today, how unlike our federal government.  Our nation is so polarized and divided.  Reasonable debate and beneficial compromise is virtually nonexistent.   What is the difference?  The difference is that, at the end of the day, our Bishops truly love God and His church.  We all have our opinion and we can all be stubborn, but on any particular issue, there were enough of us that came together as reasonable brothers so that God’s business was taken care of.

One of the sessions was opened up with Psalm 133

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

…For there the Lord commanded the blessing

Bottom line, that is the secret to the Church of God’s success.  Unity is the point at which the blessing of God flows.  The more unified we become the more God is able to bless and prosper us.  This is true whether it is a nation, denomination, church, family or friendship.  I will leave the 74^th General Assembly with a renewed hope for our great church and a determination to take the unity that was modeled here to my family, church family and nation.  I pray that you will join me.

“A mystic bond of brotherhood makes all men one.”

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)