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31 Flavors? Or ONE Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God! (Eph.4)

7/10/2025

I’m of Cephas. I’m of Apollos. I’m of Peter. I’m of Paul. I’m of Mary. I’m of Barnes. I’m of Thornburg. I’m of Simon. I’m of Garfunkel.

“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls.”

The most famous question upon meeting a new person at a golf course, or on an airplane: “So, what do you do?” This is code for, “How important are you? How impressive are you? How wealthy are you?”

The most famous question upon meeting someone in the religious world: “So where do you attend?” This is code for, “Which of 31 Baskin Robin flavors are you? Can I trust you? Are you weird? What social group do you hang with?”

How about this instead?

“At the name of Jesus, do your knees buckle in worship and Lordship? Have you taken up your cross to follow him? Have you died to the world, and the world to you? Does he have all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your strength?”

On the last day of your journey on this planet, will you be able to finish His words: “You Stand here before Me by...” “YES! The blood of the Lamb, the word of my testimony, and I loved not my life to the point of death.”

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

[“These things I speak in this age, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:13-15)

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.] (John 17:20-21)

“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE—just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23)

“Where do you attend? Have you placed membership? Who is your covering? What flavor are you?”

These words reflect nothing of Christianity or Jesus’ prayer for oneness of the truly Twice-Born Spirit-Indwelt in every city and country.

They are merely code for “I want to be safe. I want to be viewed as innocent. I want to socialize. I don’t wish to die to the world and the world to me. I don’t wish to deny my very self. I am part of a club that ignores as poetry what Jesus said, ‘If they hated me they will hate you also’ (John 15:18). And you had better be part of a club like mine also—or I will instantly reject and insult you!”

As the song goes, “Let’s be Christians. Christians only.”

The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls. And fellowship halls. “I’m of Simon. I’m of Garfunkel.”

Where do you attend? There’s no such thing as attending anywhere. At least not in the Bible. Can we cut this American trash out, please?

There’s only one kind of true Christian.

To separate from each other based on flavors, styles, opinions, and culture really is exactly opposite of what Jesus taught and what the first century practiced: one church per city. To include based on culture rather than taking up our cross and denying the world system—is also forbidden. We can do better! For the Lamb!

Therefore... “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

 

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