The Lone Ranger Rides....No More!

And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17-18 (emphasis mine)

“Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear…the Lone Ranger rides again!” Glued to the TV I’d watch Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, single-handedly right wrongs. Great material for a television show, but contrary to popular belief, Christianity isn’t a one man, denomination or persuasion performance. As believers we need to wake up and accept the truth that we need each other if we want to experience the totality of God’s love. No one has a lock on all revelation. Period.

We may hate to admit or entertain the thought that those at odds with our pet beliefs many not be completely off their rockers. Without their help we’ll never grasp the big picture, just our small slice of it.

God purposely planned for his kids to have to work together, and not isolate themselves into cliques. We’ve done this for hundreds of year and it hasn’t worked. The world sees our infighting and dismisses us as a bunch of whiney babies, who spend time, money and effort trying to convert each other. Who wants to join a bunch that preaches “love one another” and fights like cats and dogs to the death? No one with any wit!

In order to bring God’s kingdom to earth we’ll have to work together. Rather than major on the minors: what’s THE correct day to worship; what’s THE proper way to baptize and so forth, let’s focus on THE key issue. Jesus is Lord. Holy Spirit is ready and willing to correct any faulty beliefs, even without our help.

Don’t misunderstand; this isn’t a call for universalism. It does matter what and in whom we believe. What doesn’t matter are the pet doctrines and petty differences we permit to divide us. It’s time to slay the sacred cows, have a BBQ, and sit down to fellowship around the central truth. Jesus is Lord. Without each other we’ll miss out on the treasures God has place in each one of us for the benefit of all. Time to put Silver out to pasture…the Lone Ranger rides…no more.