Come Together, Right Now, Over Wha??

Posted on July 23, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” — Acts 2:42 (NKJV)

What started out as an attempt to write a campaign theme song for former counter-culture guru Timothy Leary’s run for governor of California in 1969 turned into what ended up being called “gobbledygook” by the writer himself, John Lennon. The song “Come Together” gave a nod to Leary’s campaign slogan “Come together, join the party” in title only but was kinda the anti-war anthem during the Vietnam War era. “Here come old flat top. He come groovin’ up slowly. He got joo joo eyeballs. He one holy roller” Wha?? By Lennon’s own admission, “Come Together” wouldn’t have been any good to Leary “you couldn’t have a campaign song like that, right?” After one takes a gander over the lyrics, I’m gonna concur…. it’s gobbledygook.

But the idea of coming together isn’t a bad one at all. When we come together as a unified community, we strengthen each other, encourage each other and support each other in one way or another. This is good stuff, right? However, there is a hitch or two to this idea that needs clarification. One is that if we are unifying under a banner that says we are one because we’re all individuals then that’s not really unity. That’s just a group of people who say I’ll respect your right to be whoever or whatever you choose to be as along as you do the same for me.

The second is that if we are coming together just to be against something (that’s called protesting) and the way Secularland dedicates the rule of that, well let’s just say that may not be a good idea either. So, who has the better idea of coming together? Well if you said Jesus then let’s take a look at that, shall we?

Ya gotta go into The Book of Acts, chapter one, where you’ll read a dialogue that went on between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus has just told them that The Comforter was only a few days away and they went ahead and asked, “Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” Now, if this was asked of me, there would be a serious eye roll moment, but it’s Jesus and He’ll remind them, gracefully, that the task ahead is to be witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Europe, the America’s, Africa, Australia, Asia and Mays Landing New Jersey (gotta do it in your own hometown too). Anyway…

The only way the disciples were gonna get an answer to their question of restoration of a free Israel was to go out into all the world and tell people about Jesus. And the model for that will come in Acts 2 when Peter gives a convicting sermon and three thousand souls were added to a community of believers. When we read further along in Acts we’ll see this in verse forty four, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.” The only way this works is in understanding what Jesus says here in John’s Gospel…

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:10-12).

We can look at Secularland and see how they miss the boat with love one another. They take Jesus outta the equation because His light will expose the selfish love they would rather have for one another, rather than the selfless love Christians have been called to show to everyone. For us, it isn’t all gobbledygook. On the contrary, coming together happens from a right view of God’s love and genuine care for one another.  The writer of Hebrews puts it even better when we read…

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

The world around desperately needs to Come Together…Right Now…But it needs to do it with Jesus as it’s focus. Our part in that is to show them what that first century idea we see in Acts 2:42-47 looks like lived out. Instead of pointing them out in condemnation lets point them to the Savior in elevation to salvation. Then maybe we can all figure out why anyone has to be good looking ‘cos their so hard to see. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) has been married for 25+ years (Kathy), has a married son (Kevin) and a daughter in college (Karen). He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

Think About This: “There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator. Friendship and fellowship are legal tender among believers.” — J. Vernon McGee

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 33-34, Acts 16:22-40| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” – Isaiah 26:3-4

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

 

 

 

 

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