E Pluribus Unum

Do you recognize the phrase, "E Pluribus Unum"? If you live in America, you should. It's part of the great seal of the United States and is printed on much of our currency. Just look at the back of a dime. Look on the back of a dollar bill, although you may need a magnifying glass. It's latin for "out of many, one". But are we really "one" as a country today? It sure doesn't seem like it considering how polarized our political parties have become.

There is so much hate in politics. Instead of the two parties simply presenting and debating differences on a mature, reasonable, professional level, it's obvious that in many cases, there is real hate. And it's ugly. 

However, even though the phrase "E Pluribus Unum" may not seem relevant today in our country, there is a place where it applies perfectly -- the church. When it comes to the Christian church, it's actually the perfect theme. 

Christians of all nations, all ethnicities, all races make up one body -- the world-wide church of Christ followers, with Jesus at the center. The body of Christ is made up of the young, the old, the poor, the rich, the intelligent, the less intelligent, the fat, the skinny, the beautiful, and the ugly. It's made up of people with many different languages and many different cultural traditions. The church is "out of many, one". 

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. (Ephesians 2:20-21)

The night before He died, Jesus prayed that we, as His followers, would be united as one.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21)

E Pluribus Unum!