“E Pluribus Unum” is the motto written on the seal of the United States. I had forgotten the exact meaning, so I looked it up. It means, “Out of many, one.” It seems to me that instead of hanging together as one, division is trying to overshadow the unity that our countries founders worked and fought so hard to achieve.
In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul explains how the church resembles a human body. There are many parts, and all of them are necessary to function as God intended. I will say the same about our country. Our country is diverse geographically, from coast to mountains, to planes, and deserts, each with their different climates. It is also diverse ethnically, with people living here whose origins are from, I would assume, nearly every nation and tongue on the planet. “God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” v6
“And if the ear says, ‘I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,’ would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?” v 16-17. God created us to cooperate and work together. We need each other.
The US has survived 240 years because we accepted the idea of unity in diversity. Paul said, E pluribus unum: out of many, one, a little differently. “This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. v 25-26.
The next thing Paul did was to talk about the most important thing. “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.” v31b. “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” v.4-7,13.
They say in Maine, in a thick accent, “Yah can’t get theyah from heyah.” Or can you? I say we can! Or rather, God can get us there. The only way to heal division and build unity is to invite our Creator into the equation, and Jesus Christ, who gave His life so that we can be in relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
E pluribus unum will not be restored overnight or even completely on earth as we know it, but the only hope is for those who know and love Jesus to stand in the gap and pray. We need to pray out loud, starting with us asking for us, as believers, to align with the heart, and ways of God. From that position we are able to pray for others to align with God. They will not look or act like us. Each has their individual place in the alignment like eyes and ears in a body.
Do not fear. Jesus promised, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:20b. Let us rise up with a revolution of power, love and self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7. The greatest of these is love.
