Article June 4, 2012 Issue

Christianity unconfined

Marian English

In the hills overlooking the ancient town of Antioch, there’s a cave that’s said to have been a meeting place for early followers of Christ Jesus. In simple, unadorned caves such as this, Christians gathered to worship God, sing hymns, share ideas and experiences—to comfort, love, and encourage each other.

As our tour group approached the entrance to this historic place, we heard two voices singing in beautiful harmony. I didn’t understand the language, but I recognized the hymn as one I sang in a Protestant Sunday School—“Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.” Inside, we met two Christian missionaries from Korea on their way to Jerusalem.

When we asked if they would sing the hymn to our group, they readily consented, and my heart sang with them! Those earnest young men harmonized in such devotion to God and unpretentious love for us that I was deeply moved. I thought of those early Christians who had made a simple cave their church centuries ago, and I wondered, did they envision a day when fellow Christians would meet from far corners of the earth in such unity and harmony?

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