Collaboration is a hot word in our society today. Collaboration is defined as “The act of working together; united labor.” Collaboration is the talk of the town, or should I say, the talk of the nation today. The President is calling for collaboration among Democrats and Republicans. Corporations are collaborating to try and build better, more user-friendly products for consumers. Universities are collaborating with communities as they try and influence their students to be more community minded. Collaboration is taking place every day and in many ways across our society.
The key for collaboration’s success is for all of the parties involved to put aside their need to be first and work for the success of the group’s effort. I have been a part of collaborative efforts in the past that failed because one party wanted their way more than they wanted the group to move forward together. Remember, collaboration is “The act of working together.”
I can think of no better place for collaboration to succeed than the Church. We are the Body of Christ. Regardless of whether you are Episcopalian, Baptist, Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Catholic, African Methodist Episcopal, or Presbyterian–we are all Disciples of Christ. Paul put it in plain speech when he wrote,
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body… 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
(1Corinthians 12:17-20; 27 NLT)
There are so many beautiful differences within the Body of Christ that should be celebrated, but far too often those beautiful differences have been used to divide rather than enhance the presence of the Body in the world today. I have friends who would fit into each of the denominations that I listed above. We are different, make no mistake about it, and yet our unity is in found in our one belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, our glorious Savior. I want to celebrate the differences of my brothers and sisters, learn from their unique perspectives which have been formed by their experiences, personalities, and God’s call upon their lives, and work side-by-side with them so that our divided society can see the unity of the Body of Christ.
My prayer is the Body of Christ will come together in this year like never before. That we would recognize that we have a “song” to sing that the world desperately needs to hear. In the video that I’ve attached you can see the varied faces and voices from all over the world that chose to come together to make something memorable. Let us, the Body of Christ, come together, let’s collaborate, to sing the song of our Savior so that the world may know the joy, peace, purpose, and salvation that is found in Jesus alone. This is my desire, but I can’t do this by myself. I need you to stand by me. Sing it!
