Better Together

Why the Easter Cross Witness?

When you woke up this morning there were more than 33,000 different denominations in the world. A denomination can be defined as an organized aggregate of worship centers or congregations of similar ecclesiastical tradition within a specific country. These 33,000+ ecclesiastical traditions are located in over 238 different countries.

The evil one hates unity; be it unity in a family, business, or church. And he has split the church over the centuries with differences over theology. Particularly over issues relating to baptism, The Lord’s Table and the Holy Spirit. This is why there are so many different ecclesiastical traditions (denominations) and why the Church of Jesus Christ is currently so fragmented and divided. This is perplexing to a watching world. We often not only don’t love each other…but sadly the bickering can become so profound that it appears we don’t even like each other…Lord help us. This is grieving to our heavenly Father.

There is strength in unity. Jesus knew this and in one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament, John 17, He prayed for the Unity of His disciples. After praying for his disciples he stated that the world would know that the Father sent Him when it sees the Christians unified.

“I do not pray for those alone [meaning His disciples], 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. 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 17:20-23 (NKJ

In the first year of this witness (2005) seven different denominations participated: Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Independent Bible Church, Charismatic, Church of Christ, and Lutheran. In the last eight years churches in over thirty denominations have participated. The single simple over-riding goal of the ECW is for the universal church of Jesus Christ to come together in Unity as it boldly declares and testifies with joy that: He is Risen!

We are Better Together!