15When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him; he greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. Jehu took him up with him into the chariot.
2 Kings 10: 15
Such a simple and straightforward message is found in the words of 2 Kings, and yet we fail to see how monumental it is. Jehu had has just conquered Ahab, the evil king, and purged the kingdom of his followers. He then went further and met Jehonadab and had that simple question for him, “Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?” The heart is the key to the worth of a person. Too often, we attach labels and reputations to others that are undeserved.
John Wesley in his sermon, “Catholic Spirit,” reminds us that we are all called to love with an unfailing love, and that unity is found in the heart of a man. He states, “Every wise man, therefore, will allow others the same liberty of thinking which he desires they should allow him; and will no more insist on their embracing his opinions, than he would have them to insist on his embracing theirs.” We make the mistake of demanding that all those around us see life in the way we see it-that they believe as we do, and even worship as we do. Let us be reminded that God did not create robot clones, but persons of free will and persuasion. We find the unity of the church in allowing for these differences. Mr. Wesley calls that the catholic spirit, and I like it.
It’s time for the Church to get back on mission. The final command Jesus gave was not “get every nuance of theology right.” The command was, “Go, and make disciples of all nations.” We serve the same God, are saved by the same sacrifice, and were given the same Commission. Instead of focusing on our differences, we should focus on the One who makes us the same.
A Pastor's Thoughts 