byJohn Hatcher
Religion Columist

A new couple visited our church two weeks ago. They said they had received our mailout and was coming in response to our invitation. I rejoiced with their presence but knew they had not received any mailout from River's Edge Community Church. They probably received mailouts from New Hope Baptist Church and/or Braelinn Church.

It occurred to Sam Calleiro, our senior associate and one who always has a positive interpretation, that our visitors were responding to an invitation from the Church of Fayette. You may ask, "Where is the Church of Fayette located?" All over. It has a couple of locations on Highway 314; at least three on Highway 92 South; two on New Hope Road; two on Johnson Avenue; several on Highway 85. Get the idea?

Slowly but surely the message is leaching through the religious soil of Fayette: there is one Church which meets in many locations. Yes, some are labeled Baptists; some Methodists; some Lutheran; some Episcopal; some Assembly of God; some Church of God. Many different labels but the same Lord: Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Lay people have been pretty perceptive about this matter of labels. They want to know why? Why are there so many different labels if we all believe the same Lord? Why are there Baptist Christians and Lutheran Christians? Do we all not believe in John the Baptist and that he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River? Do we not all believe it was Martin Luther who heralded the Protestant Reformation? Why not confuse the Devil totally and name all Lutheran churches Baptist and all Baptist churches Lutheran? You say we have different labels because we believe different things. Pentecostals believe you can lose your salvation once you get it. Baptists believe you can't lose it if indeed you ever had it. Catholics believe you need salvation as soon as possible after birth. But we all believe there is given no other name under heaven by which we all must be saved except Jesus Christ.

A lot of folks are coming up with the brilliant deduction that He who unites us is more important and more powerful than The things that divide us. Our unity in Jesus Christ is more pivotal than our disunity that divides us. More and more believers are voting for unity over disunity. More and more pastors are discovering that love of the brethren means loving pastors of other labels. And that the church is bigger than our four walls. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord. Somebody shout, "Glory!"

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