“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

                                                                                                Ephesians 4:4-6

Back in October I experienced one of those times when I had to read and then re-read something to make sure it said what I thought it did. Burger King encouraged the people who love its food to order from McDonalds.

Say what?!

The coronavirus is causing strange things to happen in this world. Like one fast food chain touting another one, for instance. You see, once shelter-in-place orders were issued, the Home of the Whopper released a statement on Twitter asking everyone to support them as well as other fast-food restaurants in order to help thousands of people employed in that industry.

This is what the statement said:

We never thought we would ask you to do this, just as we never imagined we would ask you to order from KFC, Subway, Five Guys, Taco Bell and other independent food outlets, too numerous to mention here.

In short: Order from any of our sister food chains. Restaurants employing thousands of staff really need your support at the moment. So, if you want to help, keep treating yourself to tasty meals through home delivery, takeaway, or drive through. Getting a Whopper is always best, but ordering a Big Mac is also not such a bad thing.

Oh, that the church could adopt that attitude. Instead of trying to horde its members and visitors by running down other churches, imagine what would happen if we encouraged people who attend our church but may be looking for something else . . . what if we encouraged them to attend another church? Even helped them pick a church where they could find what they were looking for?

I’ve always said it doesn’t matter where you attend church as long as you attend somewhere. Folks, we’re not in a competition. As the church – the ONE Church of Jesus Christ – we are called to community and cooperation. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Father God give us the wisdom to see that we are all one Church, and give us the courage to build that Church, wherever its members may be. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.