By Mark A. Taylor
Maybe you remember your child’s first steps. Was he one who tried and tumbled? Or was she more of a wait till I know I can do it type?
In my family we had one of each. Our firstborn didn’t take a step till she was 13 months old. But once she walked, she took off and never stopped.
It was different when our son came along. We remember less about his first step than his attempts to achieve it. After weeks of pulling up and falling down again and again, he finally took a few faltering steps that ended in another collapse by the couch.
I thought about first steps as I considered the progress toward unity achieved by this year’s North American Christian Convention.
As with our children, we’re excited to see these first steps. We talk about them and take pictures of them. They’re a sign of health.
But no one expects first steps to be the last. The snapshots of our toddlers, wide eyed with pleasure and fear as they work to keep their balance, would only make us sad if the child hadn’t continued to grow. The best thing about first steps is the potential they promise for the future.
We are reveling in this year’s NACC experience. Joy. Harmony. Gestures of reconciliation. We witnessed history, and all those who worked so hard to make the meeting a success deserve our thanks.
Such effort and prayer and expense almost always go before first steps. Think of the anticipation that preceded your child’s first year!
But all that energy will have been wasted if these first steps are the last. This year’s convention was a grand preparation for so much more that yet could happen.
We could get acquainted with leaders of a cappella churches of Christ in our own communities.
We could find ways to serve with them for Christ’s sake and in his name.
We could worship together.
On a national scale, we could continue to invite leaders from that fellowship to our platforms and boards and planning meetings.
And we could continue to remind ourselves that what we experienced in Louisville was not an end in itself. The unity we seek is for the sake of evangelizing the world, not just enjoying each other.
Restoring fellowship with like minded believers who were not separate from us a century ago may seem less than impressive to a watching, skeptical world. Christ prayed for all his followers to experience complete unity (John 17). When Christians everywhere drop their party spirit and focus instead on worshiping and serving Jesus together, those who don’t know him will notice.
Toward that end, indeed, we have taken only a first step.
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