Did you know that Christianity is the largest religion in the world today?

I was reading some statistics and thought that some of the other major faith groups might be larger, but Christianity is the largest, claiming one billion adherents out of an approximate five billion people.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we had unity to the point that Christians worldwide could agree on some very basic doctrines and could unite on issues to change the world? Wouldn’t it be interesting to seriously evangelize to the point that much of the world could know Jesus as the savior of the world?

I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but I do know that here in Fayette and Coweta counties the pastors of many different denominations are doing something about this. It may not seem like much to many people, but we have a very healthy “unity movement.”
This group of prayer warriors, made up of pastors and lay people, meets each week on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at IHOP in Fayetteville for breakfast. From this group, a Coweta County group is now organizing.

At this breakfast, we have fellowship and uplift one another in the faith. Rarely have I heard any “theological differences” discussed. I have heard, though, pastors and lay people sharing prayer needs and ministry needs with one another.

If your pastor is not meting with this group, encourage him to attend. We will all be blessed by that happening.

What has happened to me personally is that now when I pass a Christian church, regardless of the denomination, I raise my hand to God and ask that the Holy Spirit will reside there and that the pastor and the congregation will accept His leading.
Does this sound scary to you to ask the Holy Spirit to reside there? If not the Holy Spirit, then whose spirit? The Bible says we are the body of Christ with one faith, one baptism, and one Spirit.

“Uno is the basis for the word “unity.” What I love about our “unity movement” is the fact that it is open to all denominations and to all races and all genders. I strongly feel we are just beginning to see what God will do with a people who tear down the walls of separation and start loving one another.

I was just reading in my Baptist denominational newspaper, the Christian Index, about Billy Graham’s daughter, Ann Graham Lotz. As you may know she is conducting a crusade here in Atlanta entitled “Just Give Me Jesus.” It will be next weekend, Aug. 25-26, at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta. If you need any additional information call 678-441-9133.

We have a long way to go with unity, but the benefits are enormous. Many people look at other Christian churches not as brothers and sisters in Christ but as competition. They are not happy to see another church come into the county. It’s like it is a “members only” club.

If you don’t believe it is this way then ask yourself, “How do I feel when I drive by another church?” Do you say a silent prayer to God thanking Him for that church and asking Him to save the lost, or do you say, “Who do they think they are, building a church there?”

Practice love and unity. Do you remember the “youth group” song we used to sing; “We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord. One day our unity will be restored and they will know we are Christians by our love. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love! And they will know we are Christians by our love!”

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County School System, and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville, but not for long. It will move to a new location near Senoia in August. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail Khern2365@aol.com. )

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