Editorial January 18, 1988 Issue

Cement for "the bonds of Christian brotherhood"

William E. Moody

In many ways, divisiveness is a peculiarly vexing malaise of our times. Of course the twentieth century doesn't hold a monopoly on the condition, as any reading of history clearly shows. Yet with all the visionary talk about world community, with the tremendous advances in transportation, even with the fantastic communications systems that can link the globe in instant awareness of current events, the heart sometimes still yearns to know—really know—one's neighbor just down the block. We yearn to understand and be understood, to care and be cared about.

Divisiveness is especially sad when it appears in the religious life of a society. Within the broad scope of Christianity, for example, there are today literally hundreds of varied sects and denominations. There is no question that many groups of Christians are conscientiously working and praying to help establish a genuine spirit of unity in the world. But it's also apparent that within individual churches, as well as between denominations, there have at times been elements of suspicion and bitterness that do anything but promote healing or hasten progress in realizing the kingdom of God, which Jesus said is already at hand. And the Master made this startling observation nearly two thousand years ago!

Is God's kingdom present, real? Did the words of Christ Jesus speak a fundamental, though radical, truth; or was his vision only the naive hope of a primitive idealist? Which do we believe? And, then, what are our responsibilities?

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