The growth of Christianity comes from the centre not the margins. Christianity grows from the heart by the gospel of Christ, not from the edges by political alliances with other organisations. Like our unity, Christian growth is forged by our common experience of Christ, not by ecclesiastical coalitions.
God unites us by the death and resurrection of his Son, declared to us in the gospel and made effective in us by spiritual rebirth. We are to maintain this unity of the Spirit by our love for one another and by our common mind and understanding (Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 2:1-11).
In Christ, the divisions of humanity are overcome. We “are all one in Christ Jesus”. We all share in the one and the same Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus. “There is one body and one Spirit - just as we were called to the one hope that belongs to our call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 1:4-6). This common experience of Christ unites Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, and Scythian (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11).
Consequently, Christianity has a missionary focus, reaching out and welcoming in people of every background, for our standing is in Christ and not in ourselves. The welcome we extend is the message of God’s gospel: of Christ crucified and resurrected; of repentance and regeneration. For in this message we are reconciled to God, and He to us, as we are to one another, without respect of persons. Read more
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