A ladder sits outside a window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It's been there for centuries. It's become known as the Immovable Ladder.
It's not particularly heavy. It's not serving any special purpose. But it has to stay where it is.
There are six Christian orders that claim rights over the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the traditional site of Jesus' tomb. The dealings between these groups have been less than peaceful; many physical altercations have taken place between monks representing different groups. In 2002, a Coptic monk moved his chair 8 inches to a shadier spot; the fight that broke out because of this "hostile act" sent 11 holy men to the hospital.
Because of these frictions, many agreements have had to be drawn up to keep the peace. The actual keys to the church are held by a Muslim, for not one of the orders trusts the others to allow them access.
So it's come to pass that a ladder has been in place for over 250 years. No one really knows where it came from. Nobody uses it. The ladder stands as a symbol to the division in Christianity.
Which is exactly what our Lord didn't want. The night of his arrest, Jesus prayed the following words:
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:20-23).
As long as the world sees Christians fighting among themselves, Christianity will never have a chance to spread as it should.
Enough is enough. It's time for Christians to unite. Let's return to the basic truths of the Bible, and leave the fighting to those who don't believe in God.
And would someone please take down that ladder!
Let's talk about the basics of faith and the plea to return to the Bible. Join us on our HopeForLife.org website or write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.
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