A Christmas Toast
I had some unexpected personal matters to attend to this week, so the Mary series will continue next week. The following is a speech I delivered to the ordained men of our church and their families at a recent dinner gathering:
God has blessed us richly,
We’re one year into the story of our two churches joining in one to display the unity that God calls us to.
Before our eyes we have seen a small fulfillment of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Unity is one of the most important goals for the Christian, and it is also very difficult to fight for. Part of the challenge is that the word unity has been co-opted in our land by people who have enjoyed the fruit of Christian unity, but have no desire to be united to Christ or His bride. Unity has become a cheap word that usually means something like ignoring problems, and pretending like we get along to serve some greater globalist purpose.
But we are Christians, and our common banner is Christ. We share His name in our baptisms, so we suffer together, we fight sin together, and we feast together.
When we exhibit this sort of unity, then the world will see that the Father sent the Son, and that the Father loves us just as He loves the Son. This unity can flow out of the church like a river, accomplishing the prayer that we sing:
“O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.”
I close with an excerpt from King George VI 1939 Christmas Royal Address:
“I believe from my heart that the cause which binds together my peoples and our gallant and faithful Allies is the cause of Christian civilization. On no other basis can a true civilization be built. Let us remember this through the dark times ahead of us and when we are making the peace for which all men pray.
A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted.
In the meantime, I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you.
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year. “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown. “ And he replied. “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.”
To Christ the King
To the health of Trinity Reformed Church
To the health of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
To the health of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, the bride of Christ
And binding this all together, to Unity.
