Given the implications and the nature of the topics that we're discussing at Psalm 133, I thought I would give you some information on my background in the Church. Now, this is not meant to be an exhaustive accounting; my goal here is to highlight some key experiences that have helped me to understand how the Church functions, how division can be costly, and how unity brings about the manifest power of God.
Now, I've attended church as long as I can remember, all the way back to the age of 5. I've attended both large and small congregations, denominational and non-denominational, wealthy and not. I've been a part of churches that have had multiple secondary sources of income (i.e. preschools,) and churches that didn't. I've attended churches that have done many, many community outreaches, and churches that did little more than have service on Sunday.
I've seen the greatest triumphs among Christians, including a youth missions trip to India participated in jointly by both Baptists and Assembly of God members that touched tens of thousands. These are the things that make you proud to be a Christian.
I've also witnessed some of the worst failures of churches: I've been a part of two massive church splits of large congregations, both caused by the pastors having affairs and then trying to cover them up. These are the things that make you wonder (at times) if it's all worth it in the end.
I know this: God doesn't change, and He is fully capable of completing the work that he has begun in the churches of the United States of America, I know what we can do to make sure that He can use us to do it, and I know that He's not done with this nation. Given all of these things, I hope we can all come together enough to see His kingdom come and His will be done in our great nation.
