The Ties That Bind!

Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

Charles Schultz, the creator of the classic Peanuts comic strip, has a classic moment in on of his stories. Linus has just told Lucy that he plans to become a doctor. Lucy stops skipping rope to offer her usual criticism: “That’s a big laugh! You could never be a doctor. You know why?” Then, as she returns to skipping rope again, she offers her acidic analysis of Linus: “Because you don’t love mankind, that’s why!” Linus with a straight back and obviously disturbed appearnce, comes back with his defense: “I love mankind – it’s people I can’t stand.”

All of us at one time or another have probably been guilty of uttering something similar to the feelings of Linus. The world that God has created is such a marvel, but on the other hand, it also seems to be a bit of a mess at this point in time.

Right now, we are all dealing with the political climate that is consuming us on a daily basis. People feel uneasy even mentioning politics, let alone having a conversation about the candidates and each of their strengths and weaknesses. We are all Americans, but we all have differing hopes, dreams, and requirements about the person who will get our vote.

This situation is rather like the members of a family. While they are all in the same family, the make up of it can be extremely different. For example, one child might be shy, while another is a live wire. One may be gifted in music, while another pursues sports. In some cases, they look nothing like each other, or even their parents, yet, the family members share a bond with each other that is stronger than their differences.

Our Founding Fathers took a vast risk when they gathered to draft and sign the Declaration of Indepence. These Fathers enshrined the promises of freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility in the Declaration and the Constitution. Jefferson and the Founders pledged to each other to honor these documents with their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. They knew that these values would guide future generations to prosperity and happiness. Today, these promises are more in jeopardy than ever before.

The America of today has taken the principles upon which the Founding Fathers pledged and changed them around to be self serving. The expression the tie that binds is commonly used to describe a common idea or belief that links people together. Our Founding Fathers united Thirteen colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted laws, beliefs, and freedoms guaranteed to all.

Today, we are not so much interested in the tie that binds us as we are in the differences that separate us. Rather than being interested in a nation with unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we seen to be more interested in denying those rights to others who don’t agree with us.

As Christians, the tie that binds us is Jesus. He is what unites and holds us together. We share a love of Christ and of all mankind. On the cross and in His subsequent resurrection, Jesus united us all in a bond that includes love, fellowship, forgiveness, grace, and service. Just like Americans are committed to this country and its laws and privileges, we, as Christians, are committed to serving others in the name of Jesus.

As we strive as a nation, a people, a world to revisit the ties that bind, it would be beneficial to us all to remember the ties that bind in each of our lives.

In 1773, the young pastor of a poor church in Wainsgate, England was called to serve a large and influential church in London. As the pastor, John Fawcett, and his wife, Mary, were helping to load up the wagons with their few belongings, the people in his congregation came to say a tearful goodbye. As Mary looked at the faces of those people she loved, she said, “John, I cannot bear to leave.” To which John replied, “Nor can I. We shall remain here with our people.” The couple stayed and ended up serving 54 years among the people of Wainsgate. Out of that experience, Fawcett wrote the beautiful hymn Blest Be The Tie That Binds.

Blest be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers. Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

Our prayer is for a united country, and a tie that binds us all.