Worthy Brief - 3/2/2023
Friend, seek unity ... not conformity!
Ephesians 4:2-6 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Yesterday we wrote about one of the greatest moves of God ... the Moravian Revival. When the community was in complete disarray, Count Zinzendorf focused on how they could live together in love despite their differences. He called all the men together for an intense study of the Scriptures to focus on how Christian life in community was portrayed. These studies combined with intense prayer convinced many of the believers that they were called to live together in love and that their disunity and conflict were contrary to the clear calling of Scripture.
Zinzendorf’s dream was to see the differences among the community's many traditions become secondary to a corporate unity in love. In the history of the Moravian revival, we read:
“Zinzendorf was not aiming at organizational unity and uniformity among Christians and did not desire the dissolution of particular traditions, but rather their binding together in fraternal charity, mutual respect, communication and communion within a sort of loose federation.”
Thus they learned to agree to disagree on certain subjects – the one thing they agreed upon was the emphasis on love – and this was necessary in order to fulfill the “great commission."
Friend, the complexities of God's truth will make uniformity in all doctrines impossible for all believers. It is even probable that secondary issues may be used of God to test our hearts. The essential truths of the faith, however, are indisputable among true brethren and they form the truth basis for our unity. The Moravian Revival motto was, "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, but in all things love!" Revivals always reveal the veracity and power of this motto, and their fruit is the result of God's wonderful unifying presence. We will not compromise on the essentials (though some may even disagree on what they are); and we will peacefully discuss our convictions about secondary issues, agreeing to disagree and preserving the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Baltimore, Maryland
Editor's Note: Latest YouTube Video: Is it time for the spring rain? George Whitten dives into the current events in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. He goes into detail about the events taking place in the Asbury Awakening and postulates from the Bible whether or not we are at the last great move of God.
Tigris and Euphrates river levels plummet in Iraq
Water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq — the headwaters of which originate in Turkey — have plunged 30 per cent in recent days, according to Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources.
Greek Train Crash: Minister Resigns, Suspect Detained
Greek's Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned, and a station master was detained after the deadliest known train accident in the country's, and Europe's, recent history killed scores of people.
Nigeria’s Opposition: ‘Scrap Fraudulent Vote’ As Ruling Party ‘Wins’
Nigeria’s main opposition parties urged authorities to scrap the African nation’s elections, saying results showing the ruling party’s presidential candidate in the lead had been manipulated.
Italy: Scores Of Migrants Killed In Boat Crash
As night fell over the Ionian Sea, there were fears that up to 100 migrants fleeing war, persecution, and poverty had died after their wooden sailing boat crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast Sunday.
Russian launches 28 airstrikes in massive bombardment of Ukraine
Ramping up its attacks on Ukraine, Russia launched 28 airstrikes in 24 hours on Monday, including the use of Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, Newsweek reports. Monday reportedly also saw Ukrainians bombarded with a further eight Russian rocket attacks and 55 shellings.
CIA director: Iran’s enriched uranium program very close to nuclear weapon level
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) stated Sunday that Iran had advanced its nuclear program so far now that it could enrich uranium to the 90% purity required for an atomic bomb within weeks, CBS News reports.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Widespread protests over judicial reforms result in dozens arrested, major disruptions
Protesters against the judicial reform proposed by the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked a major traffic route leading from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Wednesday morning.
In time for Purim: Inscription bearing name of King Ahasuerus’s father found in Israel
In an archaeological first, the name of King Darius the Great, father of King Ahasuerus of Purim holiday fame, has been discovered in Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Wednesday.
Inside the United States
77% of Americans aged 17-24 aren’t fit for service: DOD
An overwhelmingly majority of Americans aged 17-24 are unfit for military service, according to a Department of Defense report.
FBI Director Chris Wray says COVID-19 virus likely came from a lab leak in China
FBI Director Chris Wray joined Fox News' "Special Report" with Bret Baier where he stated that the COVID-19 virus likely came from a lab leak in China.
Missouri Christian college asks Supreme Court to review Biden directive allowing biological trans gender students to be housed in girls’ dorms
A Christian college in Missouri is asking the US Supreme Court to review a federal government directive allowing biologically male transgender students to be housed in women-only dormitories, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The College of the Ozarks filed a petition for a writ of certiorari on Monday.
Christian News
Uganda: Evangelist attacked after leading 37 Muslims to Christ
An evangelist in eastern Uganda is recovering after being hospitalized by Islamist extremists enraged that he ostensibly led 37 Muslims to Christ during an extended public debate on Islam and Christianity last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal in Uganda, followers of Christ - especially former Muslims - have come under intense violent attack by Islamic extremists who seek to prevent the Gospel from being shared in the country.
Vermont Christian school forfeits basketball tournament to avoid playing against transgender opponent
The Mid Vermont Christian School in Vermont has forfeited a state girls basketball tournament so as not to play against a biologically male transgender student-athlete on the opposing team, Valley News reports. Under Vermont law, transgender girls who remain biologically male are allowed to play on female sports teams.
Iran Releases Church Leader Nadarkhani After Years Behind Bars
An Iranian pastor, who spent most of his time in prison since 2016, has been released as part of a national amnesty issued by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Worthy News learned Wednesday.