Body of Belief

While waiting with a few other leaders within the non-profit world to speak to a board for funding from a local foundation, I found myself stunned. A lady who arrived a little late sat down beside me and indicated having been to the Charleston Outreach website. "You are a faith-based organization, right?" I told her we were. She then asked, "Tell me more about what exactly you do."

Now, understand, this is a lady who walked in the door in a very engaging way. Lots of questions, strongly communicating that she had investigated all of her "competitors." That part was funny to me. No doubt I had a smirk on my face at some point. My explanation of our work included the words "helping churches work together to respond to basic human need." She laughed out loud to those words. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable. It did not end there.

"You are kidding me, right? You really have to help churches work together for human need. Aren't they supposed to be teaching the rest of the world how to do that?" She had no argument on my part. Then, she said words that choked me. "That's why I am not a Christian." She then stuttered around and left it at that.

I immediately thought of Jesus' prayer as recorded in John 17. Verse 23 says, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me...." It has become my passion. Collaboration is logical to me. Isolation is stupid, unless you have a disease no one else wants!!

We are to be the Body of belief - Jesus Body expressed amidst the world's broken.