"Rival Christians unite to restore holy site"
When my eyes caught a headline on the front page of our local newspaper, The Bend Bulletin, I cringed. Two words- "Rival Christians" ought to be an oxymoron. These two words expose one of the weaknesses of organized (Can we truly call it organized?) Christianity.
Three major Christian communities have oversight of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of Jerusalem. Quoting the article, "Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities "share- and sometimes spar over - what they consider Christianity's holiest site..." From time to time we read about the competitive spirit between these groups. A church guard, Farah Atallah was quoted, "Sometimes they punch each other." I, myself, remember the report of an actual brawl between monks and priests back in 2008.
Finally, with the site in disrepair the three groups have agreed to cooperate in order "to save the dilapidated shrine... from falling down." The cost for the 3,4 million dollar renovation is to be covered by each group contributing one-third. A Greek bank has also contributed 50,000 euros ($57,000) for scaffolding in exchange for having their name "emblazoned" on all the machinery.
I have visited this site when touring Israel, However, on our last tour, I asked our guide to eliminate it from the itinerary due to the perpetual almost chaotic environment. Even if this is the exact site for Jesus' burial, I find it repulsive due to the noise and the display. Yes, I admit to being a simple Protestant. I am not accustomed to all the ritualism and the incense etc.
There is another site outside the old City called "The Garden Tomb". It may not be authentic, but one can't help but appreciate the contrast between the two sites. In place of noise and the competitive spirit under the Church of The Holy Sepulcher, here in the Garden there is quietness. The noise of the outside world is absent for the most part. Instead of competition between Christian groups, everybody is welcome. Denominational barriers are absent as each tour group gathers to share Communion and wait their turn to visit the empty tomb. The only words one reads is not the name of a sponsoring bank, but "He is not here for He has risen."
I write today not to promote the Garden Tomb but to share my grief when I read those two words, "Rival Christians". Oh, how we have grieved our Lord and savior! He, who prayed for us- for everybody who would believe the Good News. Jesus prayed that we would be one even as He and the Father are one. When Christian brethren have become rivals, we deliberately ignore, even deny, Jesus' prayer.
Having mentioned the Good News, I want to reiterate why it is good news. Jesus Christ, fully God, became one of us. He lived the perfect life we can never live. He died in our place, paying the debt we owe and can never pay. He defeated death by rising from the tomb. Thank God, the news doesn't end with the resurrection, as powerful as that is. Jesus returned to heaven where He is seated in the place of honor, demonstrating God's justice has been satisfied. But, let us never forget that Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to comfort and empower us so that we can truly love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
It doesn't get any better than that.
So let us also pray that we who claim to follow Jesus will be one in faith and in our actions toward one another. By this the world will recognize that Jesus came to live among us and that He truly did rise again and is living through His followers today.
