When I accepted my call to my current church 22 years ago, I had to turn down another call. I believe that both search committees truly sought to listen to the Holy Spirit in discerning whether or not to call me. I believe that they both felt led by the Spirit to do so. We often think that God has one specific plan laid out for us and that the job of discerning his will for our lives means figuring out what that plan is. But that is a very pagan idea. It leaves our own responsibility out of the equation.

We’re glad to release another installment in our YouTube Better Together conversations. In this edition we’re joined by Ron Nydam, the Professor of Pastoral Care Emeritus from Calvin Theological Seminary.

Over the last several months, as we at Better Together have engaged in calling the church to unity, even across disagreement, for the sake of mission. Along the way we’ve been warned - “Here Be Dragons.” These warnings have intended to frighten us back onto the map.

One of the critiques we've encountered is that third-way thinking simply does not work. We disagree.

We're glad to be joined in this edition of Better Together's YouTube Conversations by Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum as we look at how when conflict is engaged well results in discipleship.

I must admit to a similar approach to political, theological and ethical discussions. I can usually at least act like I’m listening to others’ opinions that differ from my own. But I naturally listen to those opinions in order to contradict them as well as build a stronger case for my own. When I take the time to listen to someone’s view that differs from mine, I generally do so not to understand what that person is telling me, but to refute it.

There was a time when Catholics and Protestants tortured and even killed one another for their views on baptism and communion. Now, we can sit side by side in the same classroom. My strong hope for the CRC is that we will not part ways, but continue to worship side by side with each other, whether we are “affirming” or “traditional,” whether we have settled views on matters of human sexuality or - like so many - are still asking the questions.

I’ve been frequently asked why I am a part of the CRCNA movement called Better Together. The roots of my support run deep, and are informed by the reasons for my membership in the CRC in the first place. When I first joined the CRC as a member of the Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Paterson, New Jersey, I had been a member of the Anglican church for my formative years. But what drew me deeply into the CRC was the theology — especially informed by a Theology of Grace — Christ has paid it all.

One question from Jesus, perhaps more than any other, compels me continually to reassess my values, to realign my priorities, to re-examine my speech and actions. He asks: “When the Son of Man returns, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18.8) It’s that question, too, that has prompted me to add my name and lend my support to the Better Together initiative. Let me explain.

One of the charges lobbed at us from different quarters, including most recently in the Reformed Journal, is that we are watering things down, siding with the status quo, being “tepid,” for the sake of maintaining unity. We are sacrificing conviction, our detractors say, to hold to a tenuous middle ground.

I am a lifelong member of the CRC who has found great joy in welcoming and witnessing the affiliation of many who are not lifelong members. There is no doubt that we are changing as a denomination, and much of that change I embrace and celebrate. Yet, I sense we are at a historic moment.

One of the challenges we face as we encourage unity across disagreement is the challenge of and demand for clarity. A few weeks ago the Reformed Journal featured a piece on their daily blog written by a member of our Steering Team, Nate DeJong-McCarron. In this entry we are encouraged a more nuanced possibility - an improvisational ethic - for how we might consider moving forward in unity.

One of Better Together’s goals is to create space for key conversations throughout the church that promote both unity and mission. This week Better Together is thankful to launch our first YouTube conversation as we welcome James K.A. Smith. Smith is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University, where he holds the Gary & Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview.

As we continue to share the vision of Better Together we are excited to introduce to you a new group of leaders who are committed to this vision and BT’s values. These are key leaders, pastors, and member of the Christian Reformed Church who are glad to add their voices to sharing this compelling call to unity in Christ for the sake of mission.

As a relatively new preacher, I have the rookie problem of bemoaning how much of the sermon study never makes the final cut. I still fight the urge to cram in as many details as possible like an over-stuffed suitcase. Because I’m convinced that 20+ hours of study can be shared in 20 minutes or less. This week the suitcase came undone. And for the first time, I was immensely grateful the congregation isn’t going to have to hear the details of my homiletical hissy fit.

As we approach Easter Sunday we find ourselves very much approaching the valley of the shadow of death. One of the key passages for today, Maundy Thursday, comes to us from Philippians 2:5-8 as it reflects the humility Jesus demonstrates as he washed his disciples feet in the Upper Room.

It’s 1995 in Michigan. My parents have asked our non-CRC church to transfer our memberships back to the CRC. We had been living in an area with no CRC churches, so a different denomination - one with an historically good relationship with the CRC - had been our home. We’ve moved though, and that church won’t transfer the membership. They don’t like some parts of the CRC’s theology anymore. These things they don’t like - they don’t seem to be salvation issues.

Do you want what Jesus wants?

That’s a question I have to ask myself regularly when I think about unity with other Christians in my city, in my denomination and around the world.

It’s pretty clear what Jesus wants. He prays for it.

I am going to assume we agree that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What we have received is a gift of amazing grace from God. I am assuming that even though there are various understandings of Scripture, most, despite those differences, desire to follow God and seek to faithfully and respectfully understand and apply Scripture.

Today, you’re invited to join us in this prayer of lament and confusion written by Marja Fledderus of Ancaster, Ontario specifically for Better Together. Please join us in praying.

We are thankful to Marja Fledderus of Ancaster, Ontario for authoring the prayer below. It is another installment in our Lenten series as we lament and repent over how we have come to this place where division threatens the church. Feel free to use it in congregational or group settings.