Is This What We Have In common?

2 John 1:1
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
2 John 1:2
because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Apostle John writes to the church with a very clear emphasis on what he has in common with them and what they have in common with each other. What do you have in common with your friends? what do you have in common with the people you worship with?

When the Apostle writes to the elect lady and her children, he is referring to the church and its members. Then he says that he loves them in truth. Take note of the word truth. Then he tells the church that he is not the only one who is sending greetings, and he is not the only one who loves the church and its members. Apostle John writes that he also sends love and greetings from all those who know the truth. Take note of the word truth. Then he affirms that this truth will be with all of them for eternity. Is this what they had in common? Is this what we have in common?

In the religious realities of his time, Apostle John and the church had to contend with many false religious people. Orators who attracted audiences only to proclaim lies. Great men and women who used clever ways to teach and preach lies, consequently mislead many. Lies on religious matters masqueraded as truth. The truth was rare and elusive.

Even though lies are popular, God has a remnant of people who stick to the truth even when it seems old-fashioned. People who love the truth and would even die for it. People who stick to the truth even when it offends those who feed them. People who love the truth and have lost relations and material things for truth. These people come together for the sake of truth!

They may be of different races but united by the truth. They may be of different tribes and languages and even cultures but united by the truth. They may be of different economic classes but united by the truth. They may be of different levels of literacy but united by the truth. The age difference may be significant or otherwise, but united by the truth. They may be professionals in different disciplines but united by the truth. Is this what we have in common?

Isn’t it sad, if what you have in common is the social aspect of the place of worship and no truth? Isn’t it sad that if you just like the singing in church but you don’t care about the truth or lack of it in that place of worship? Isn’t it very sad that what keeps you in a certain place of worship, is not the truth, but that your relatives and friends attend that place? What should bring us together to a commonplace of worship is truth. Is that what we have in common?

Truth is what the Bible in totality teaches. Truth is what doesn’t contradict the Bible. Truth is not what your friends, relatives, and parents believe. Truth is what God has said in scripture. Truth is what you can confirm for yourself in scripture. Truth is what God wants you to believe and live by. This truth should bring like-minded people together to a commonplace of worship. Not any church is good for anyone. Only attend a church that upholds the truth and what you first and foremost have in common is the truth. Is that what we have in common?

What is the Bible truth about alcohol? One text may tell us to use little wine for stomach ailments. However, the totality of the whole scripture condemns the use of alcohol. Therefore the totality guides us in interpreting the single text we do not understand. We rather uphold what the totality is than stick to a controversial text. The truth is the totality of what scripture says on any subject. That totality is known as teachings or doctrines. This is the truth that should unite us. That we share the same belief in the same doctrines. Is this what we have in common?

Past truth is still truth. Future truth is still truth. Present truth is still truth. Present truth is what God says to us about the events happening in our lives and around us. At every point of time in history, there has been a present truth. Not new truth, no, present truth. It may have been there and is known, but what makes it present is that it is most relevant now. We should be brought together by truth. Is this what we have in common?

What do you have in common in that social media group? What do you have in common with your pack of friends? What do you have in common with your daily companions? What do you have in common with your lover? Truth is the best thing to have in common. Is this what we have in common?

Dear God, teach me Your truth. Make it clear to me. Help me to teach it to others. Guide me to people with whom we share the same truth. May Biblical truth be what we have in common, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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