Unity, Constancy, and Truth

I'm an Episcopalian. I've only been going to the church for five years or so, but I'm pretty sure it's where we're supposed to be. I've gone to a lot of different churches and denominations throughout my life, and I've come to really love the rhythm and dialogue of the Episcopal church.

One of the things that strikes me almost every week is a line in the Eucharist (Rite II) that our priest says while he's offering up the elements.

“Unity, constancy and peace.” To me, that is the core of the Christian faith.

Unity: We don't all agree. In fact, one of the draws of the denomination is that most people will not agree with your personal theology. You find touch points here and there with everyone, but there's an individuality that allows for the pull and stretch of the muscles of the Body of Christ. It's less of a balance and more of a pull between the two, giving each believer a place somewhere along the continuum of ideas. Those touch points are places where we agree when we meet. Sometimes, they're the very basic tenets of the Christian faith. Other times, they're more robust, giving us a rich conversation base. We all walk in the same direction, serve the same Lord, and drink from the same cup. Here, I'm learning that I don't have to agree with every talking point another believer has to still walk in unity with him.

Constancy: “Faithfulness, madam. Your enduring faithfulness.” The one thing that keeps people together, even when things get extremely challenging is the constancy of the faith. Christ has not left us, so we should follow His example and walk together with the men and women in our small community. If unity is present, and constancy found, things won't degenerate. You'll just keep being unified. Honest. Walking in love and truth.

Peace: “Inasmuch as is possible, live in peace with all men, especially those of the household of faith.” We know that we're not perfect. We're all a little insecure about our failures. If we can't keep perfect unity, and we miss that bit of constancy, peace is the route to take. Speak and act peaceably with your brothers and sisters, and “all shall be well.” Things can come to an amicable understanding if you walk in the peace of the Lord. It's something we say to one another every week. “The peace of the Lord be with you.” Make it happen. Live at peace.

It's not the usual statement of faith. However, it's certainly an extremely good reminder of the practicality of living the Christian faith.

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