The听recent听Winter Olympics听showcased听their听core value听of听friendship and unity in sports. For many of us, this听is a breath of fresh air听in a听time听filled with听division and polarization.听The news, social media, and even conversations around the coffee pot at work only seem to听amplify the situation. Even within the church, differences can harden into distance. Unity can sometimes听feel听even impossible.听听
Yet, into the听landscape of division, Easter speaks a听better word, a better breath of fresh air.听At the cross,听we are听brought together听by听our shared need听for salvation.听Before we are divided by politics, ethnicity, generation, or personal conviction, we are united in this truth: all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God听(Romans 3:23). On the cross,听He听took听our sin,听accepted听the judgment, and reconciled us to God.听You听may听have heard this before, but the ground at the foot of the cross is level.听听
In the resurrection听we share a听risen King!听We are听united听under His听authority听and听a shared听loyalty听that is above听all others.听Our听primary听allegiance听is not to cultural听groups听or denominational labels, but to the risen Lord who听reigns听forever. We may听disagree听on secondary matters, but we confess one Lord, one faith, one baptism听(Ephesians 4:5-6). The resurrection anchors our identity听as a people听in Christ, not in shifting cultural currents.听听
This听unity听in听the cross and resurrection is powerful.听I saw a glimpse of this during a season of my ministry when I served as the director of First Priority in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. We had 30 youth pastors and ministry directors听representing听a wide diversity of Christian听traditions:听from Pentecostal to Presbyterian, from non-denominational to Catholic. Yet we gathered around one shared mission: proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to听middle and high听school students throughout our community.听听
This unity听did听not erase our differences but put them in听proper听perspective.听What brought us together was far greater than any听differences.听We believed in the听saving grace听of Christ鈥檚 death and the life-changing truth of His resurrection.听Our motto, 鈥�Better Together Than Apart,鈥�听was simple but听rooted in this belief.听
The cross and resurrection declare that being reconciled to God and others is not just听wishful thinking.听It’s听already done! Jesus听didn’t听come just to save scattered individuals; He came to make one redeemed people.听Easter calls us to embody what Christ has听accomplished. In a divided and weary culture, the听Church鈥檚 unity becomes a living proclamation of the听Gospel.听When we are united, we show Christ鈥檚 love and invite others to believe听–听Better together than apart!听
Learn more about PBA鈥檚 School of Ministry at听/academics/schools/ministry/.听
Dr. Jonathan Grenz is the dean of PBA’s School of Ministry. Before his appointment to deanship, he served as director of PBA鈥檚 Master of Divinity听program and assistant director of the Center for Experiential Learning. His 30+ years of ministry experience includes serving as a lead pastor, associate pastor in youth ministry and Christian education, and director of a parachurch ministry. He has been a full-time faculty member at Sioux Falls Seminary and an adjunct professor at Taylor University, College and Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta. He has led听numerous听short-term mission groups and recently has enjoyed opportunities to teach pastors in Colombia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Ukraine. He also served as the president of the We Are Life board of directors, a foundation making a major impact in the lives of people in Colombia by providing them with resources for evangelism, ministry, education, enterprise, health care, and social work. From his听expertise听and experience, he co-authored 鈥淪ynergistic Collaborations: Pastoral Care and Church Social Work,鈥澨齭eeking听to extend outreach ministries and new ways to collaborate with community organizations as they serve hurting people.听
