sol·i·dar·i·ty

sol·i·dar·i·ty
 noun. unity or agreement of feeling or action, esp. among individuals with a common interest...

Yesterday, our college ministry moved into yet another space.

In the past 9 months, the college ministry at First Baptist Dallas has more than doubled in size. Our class grew so quickly that we moved from a small, unassuming room to a large hallway with two adjacent rooms we used for discussion. Our first week in that space, we had already outgrown it.

After significant growth in that space, we were again blessed with a new space. This time, we were blessed with a state of the art worship room - complete with all the gadgets and gizmos that make ministry fun. We were even blessed with a game room filled with couches, a ping pong table, a pool table, and all the other necessary games.

Finally, we were blessed with 9 additional break-out rooms where students are able to discuss/process the lesson with other students who are also striving to follow the Lord in their daily lives.

So, what brought us to this point? How did we more than double in size, and why are we continuing to grow?

One word: Solidarity.

We are currently studying the book of Philippians, and something that crops up frequently throughout that letter (as with most of the letters in the New Testament) is the call for unity, for solidarity.

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel," Philippians 1:27

Over and over again, the Bible encourages, even commands, that Christians strive for unity.

We are told that because we serve one Lord, and because we all share in the blessings of salvation and adoption that we should stand firm in one spirit with one mind. But it doesn't stop there. We are actually given a reason why we should be unified. That reason is the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.

Let's process that...Christians are commanded to be unified, but even a cursory glance at the church (from inside and out) reveals that we are far from unified. Why? Is it because there are too many ideas out there for us to know which one is correct? Is it because there are too many voices teaching contrary principals? Is it because of pride, or selfishness, or ignorance?

All of those are possibilities, but I think the most fundamental reason is that we have neglected to hear and obey the word of God.

I believe the reason our college ministry has grown is directly correlated with our view of the gospel. These students have stood together with one mind and one spirit to achieve one common purpose, the advancement gospel of Christ.

When the people of God bond together to accomplish the work of God, then God shows up.

Solidarity.