Friday: One Flock, Many Folds
WEEK 41
FRIDAY
ONE FLOCK, MANY FOLDS
John 10:11-16
We are studying the mastery of non-caring as applied to those who belong to the same flock but are in different folds. Jesus said there was to be “one flock, with one shepherd” (John 10:16). That is possible under federal union: one flock—the Church of Jesus Christ in America, but numerous folds—the Lutheran branch of the Church of Jesus Christ in America, the Nazarene branch, and so on.
To change the figure, just as the fingers of the hand have a separate existence and yet are united in one hand, so we could have branches of the one church united in a federal union. Then there would be union with freedom—union in hand and freedom as fingers. Federal union gives union and yet freedom under that union. In order to have union, it is not necessary to tie up the fingers and merge them into one unwieldly finger. The fingers, while free, are united in the hand, organically united. They can act as a single organism. So federal union is organic union with a federal structure. The idea that we must be one undifferentiated union in order to be united presents a false picture.
The Indian chakor, a species of partridge two and a half times the size of the American partridge, is now being stocked in many states. A doctor, who raised them as a hobby and had a thousand in various pens, said that they would fight one another if one group was put into the pen of another group. But if both groups were put in a third pen, they would live together, amicably. If any denomination tries to absorb the rest, it will be resisted. But if all are put into a new structure—a federal union—then they will live together amicably. The principle of federal union worked among the American colonies, making them one nation; it will work in making Christians one people and yet with freedom.
O Christ, you are drawing us closer to you and to one another. When we find one another, we will find you. For where two or three are together in your name, there you are. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I’m bound to all my fellow Christians, but I’m free to live my life with Christ.