They May Be One

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 17:21

I've been seeing a lot of memes today on Facebook on Protestantism vs Catholicism (and some would attack Orthodoxy as well).  I get it’s out of humor, but I hate it when Christians attack or make fun of other Christians.  This is NOT Christ-like!  With all the stuff going on in the world we should be uniting together, not being more divided!  Before Jesus was betrayed and was praying in the Garden, he prayed for the Church.  That they would be one just as he and the Father are one.  Y’all, we have done a REALLY terrible job at that.  We should honestly be ashamed of ourselves for failing in this department.  We were all one church once, then we were divided by the schism in 1054.  This became the split between the East (Orthodox) and the West (Roman Catholics).  Then the Reformation happened in the Roman Catholic Church in 1517 by Martin Luther.  This is when Protestantism was born.  In the Protestant Church there are so many different denominations that it’s honestly ridiculous.  There is so much division in the Church even over the most stupid stuff!  On top of that, we tend to shoot our own people worse than those who don’t claim to follow Christ!  How pathetic are we!  I have seen this personally on all sides. Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants.  Many claiming to be holier than the other; claiming they know God better than the other or are better Christians than the other.  This. Is. Bull crap.  Stop attacking each other!  Stop it!  People on the outside look in and think, “I’m glad I’m not one of them when they attack their own people!”  You want to show the world you’re in Christ?  Love one another.  Respect one another.  You don’t have to agree with each other.  But this making fun of each other does not help the cause, it hurts it. 

“May they be one, as we are one.”

Let’s unite together, be kind to one another.  No more mocking each other.  No more attacking each other.  I’m not saying universalism either.  Let’s be one body in Christ.


P.S:  I get I'm not your typical Orthodox Christian.  I'm still learning, but even so, I believe there are true followers of Christ who are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant, just as there are those who claim to follow Christ in all three branches but really don't.  It is not my place to judge where someone's heart is when I have enough wickedness in my own heart.  We can disagree on different doctrines, but please, stop attacking and mocking each other!

To My Dear Friend

Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

- 1Samuel 18:1

You point me to the Light when I’m surrounded by darkness

When I’m drowning in depression, you reach out your hand and pull me up

When I’m afraid you give me boldness

If Christ is the hero, you’re backup

You teach me what it’s like to be selfless

You teach me what it’s like to be self-sacrificial

You’re there when I feel helpless

You show me what it’s like to have true friendship, not something superficial

How can I express to you how much your friendship means to me?

How can I thank you enough for the kindness you have shown me?

I don’t understand why you care for me so much, I’m no one special

I tend to cause so much pain for people, can you still really see me as someone special?

Whenever I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable with someone, I’ve always regretted it

How could I not?  My trust and love has often been betrayed and spat on

When I’ve opened my heart to you, I have been afraid, I’ll admit

So afraid that everything I’ve thought of you was wrong and you’ll turn out to be a con

But I do not regret sharing my heart with you, even when I have been hurt

To me, you’re worth any pain I may go through, the joy you give me outweighs the pain

There is a special place for you in my heart

Amidst the chaos, you help bring clarity in my brain

You bring me healing when I have open wounds, you bring calmness to me in my anxiety

When I shake my fists to the heavens you calm the rage in my heart

You help me seek out sobriety

I pray our friendship never parts

When I am weak and can’t fight anymore, your prayers give me strength to keep going

When the demons attack me, your prayers protect me

You help me continue growing

You give me so much, can’t you see?

There’s so much I could say

Everything I’m grateful to you for, every affection I have for you 

You’re a diamond that shines brightly, a star glimmering bright rays

You’re a true friend, through and through

May God bless our bond, may God bless our friendship

You’ve been such a blessing to me, may we always be friends in this life and the next

I couldn’t ask for a better friend

Thank you for being one of my greatest gifts in this life