“The problem’s not Hollywood, the problem’s not Washington, the problem’s a weak divided church of schismed Christians.”

The O.C. Supertones

I like Ocean City Maryland. I like shorelines and beaches. It may be because I grew up a short drive away from the beaches and boardwalks of the North Atlantic. It may be because I have lived on three different islands over the years, or it may be just because I just happen to like beaches, shorelines, and coasts.

I like Ocean City Maryland, but not so much for the beach and boardwalk. Sure they’re fine and all, but I have a different reason.

My mentor, Dick Sands, who went on to greater glory about a decade ago, was heading up The Son’Spot, a ministry about half a block from the Amusement Pier in Ocean City. “The Spot” was a busy place, hundreds of hungry people were being fed daily, the sick were being healed, and most importantly, people were meeting Jesus! Over the years, thousands upon thousands (if not millions) of lives have been changed!

Despite the constant busyness of doing all that needed to be done, Dick always had the time to sit and talk with anybody about just about anything. I still come across old letters and postcards from Dick, and floods of cherished memories come rushing in.

A few days ago, I found one of these old postcards. It was behind some dusty books on the shelf. And as always, I flashbacked to a conversation we had.

The postcard simply read:

“One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”

That’s all it said, nothing else.

This is a partial quote from Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus.

The full quote is this:

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all”

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NASB)

When I read the postcard, I was SUDDENLY taken back to a long-forgotten conversation. I do not mean I SUDDENLY remembered the conversation, what I mean is I was SUDDENLY at The Son’Spot, standing there, watching Dick and myself sitting and having a conversation.

At the time, I considered myself an apologist. Unfortunately, I was not so much providing reasons for my faith, but I was more concerned with “Heresy Hunting.” That is to say, I focused my time and effort on disparaging anybody who didn’t agree with my opinions about God, and I focused most of my attention on other people of faith.

I was on the couch, going off about The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, commonly known as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Dick just sat there, not saying a word as I ranted and raved about everything about the JW’s that offended me. Once I ran out of words, Dick looked at me and said, 

“You know what Barry? I’m a Jehovah’s Witness.”

Before I could even think of a reply, he told me:

“I believe Jehovah is God, and I am His witness.”

Without skipping a beat, he continued,

“I am a Mormon; I believe these are the Latter Days, and I believe we are saints.

[NOTE TO PUBLISHER: There is no doubt in my mind that The Watchtower and the LDS are not Christian organizations in any way, shape or form, but that’s not the point. Just keep reading.]

I am a Catholic; I believe in one church universal,

I am a Baptist; I believe in baptism,

I am an Orthodox; I believe in correct faith

I am a Presbyterian; I believe in the authority of bishops,

I am a Seventh Day Adventist; I believe the Sabbath is Holy

I am a Pentecostal; I believe in Pentecost,

I am a Jew; I believe that we are grafted into Israel,

I am an Anabaptist, I believe in baptizing adults, 

I am a Charismatic; I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are for today,

I am a Lutheran, because I believe sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).”

This went on for quite a while, and the longer it went on, the more I tried to blend into the couch and not be seen. When the Holy Spirit let Dick know that I had enough, and that I got the point, Dick just smiled, gave me a hug, laid his hands on me and blessed me, told me that he loved me, and went off to do whatever he had to do that afternoon.

As I sit here writing this, Psalm 133 comes to mind:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brothers to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Coming down upon the beard,

Even Aaron’s beard,

Coming down upon the edge of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon

Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.

Psalm 133 (NASB)

The Son’Spot has taken a different way of doing things since Dick went to Heaven. They aren’t doing anything wrong, just different. I haven’t been down there for years. I do miss the pace, I miss Dick Sands even more.

And I still like Ocean City.

Thanks for letting me take up some of your time.