A few weeks ago while working at Maripositas in Canilla, I walked home from dinner with my friend Erin. We chose the route taking us by a local indigenous church. We glanced into the building to see a small group of people gathered to worship. They almost seemed lost in the expansive space. Before I knew it, I was overcome by a sense of sadness. 

As I took some time to consider where this deep sense of sadness came from, I was reminded of some things I’ve noticed in the parts of Guatemala I’ve worked in, things not unique just to Guatemala. There can be a strong legalism within the church, putting tradition and practice over Biblical truth. Instead of a relationship, people are working to follow the rules. Within this legalism can also be an abuse of power. In addition, success can often be measured by the construction of a church building rather than making disciples and reaching out to the lost. 

I remember earlier this year on a Sunday walk through Chichicastenango, I was struck by the large number of churches. I had not noticed how many churches were in such a small area. Why did there have to be so many?  Couldn’t they join together and pool their resources? Instead, I observed, in some a division and competition. 

I’ve had a desire for many years to see churches working together, instead of keeping to their own projects. I’ve been called naïve for thinking we could actually work as a body of Christ, but seeing this small church again and the sadness I felt, I’m convinced it’s time to individually think about what it means to be the church and the body of Christ. What is the church? How do we work together as the body of Christ? 

This isn’t an easy conversation to bring up, as we all can get set in our ideas, thinking we have the right way. But maybe it’s time to question those beliefs and ask God to examine our hearts? Am I being the church and a reflection of Him? Am I acting as part of a body? How am I causing disunity instead of unity? Am I uniting with others for His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom? What did Jesus mean when he prayed we would all be one?