attending a Worship Service while in the capitol...

Last Sunday, we went (with some friends that live here) to their church. It's an international english speaking service.  The kids loved it, and it was neat to be a part of that. Mainly, because most of our "church" life is using a foreign language to us which is a humbling and growing experience.

This past Sunday was particularly cool because we were the minority (nothing unusual about that here for us) BUT we were surrounded by so many diverse ethnicities: Indian, African, Australian, European, Chinese, and other ethnic groups in Asia.  We have also met this week Middle Eastern followers of Christ. It is beautiful. Truly, it's one of those moments when you are worshiping Christ and to your left is an Indian woman, in front of me a Chinese woman, behind me a European man, and so on.... and what is our unity... CHRIST. Jesus Christ. And it's one of those moments, that I just want to scream out "YES, THIS is how it supposed to be! THIS is what life is about! Glorifying God with peoples from all over the world."

This shouldn't be a new concept as John creates this same scene for us in the book of Revelation.

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
(Revelation 7:9-12 ESV)

For years our church in the States has tried to create this environment where Red, Brown, Yellow, Black, and White can come together and worship side by side.  Praise God, we have heard since we have lived overseas that this is beginning to be reality there for them as well.  Oh church, desire this unity with all believers regardless of their skin color, culture, background, etc. For our unity truly does NOT come from those things.... but as believers in the One True God and followers of Jesus Christ... HE is our common ground... He is our unity.

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”