The "One" Truth

I will never forget the dicussion in my Biblical Theology class in college. Part of our work that year was to define and defend our view of the "center" (the main point) of the Bible. What appeared easy quickly became agonizing. Narrowing so much--the entire Bible--to one word is difficult. One word excludes so many others or includes too many more. What would you say? Some said holiness (logical and and maybe a little political in a holiness college). Others said, love, or mission, or life. One really smart person said, God...teacher's pet!

I felt good about love. Afterall the most famous verse says, "For God so loved..." But now it seems a little too nondescript...right up there with God. Maybe I am the teacher's pet. Or maybe it was just too broad of a word. Now that a few years have passed I see a better word: one.

Now maybe that was not the word you were thinking of but I find it powerfully descriptive. I know the Bible is like a diamond--you see one image while I see another. But as I continue to look in the Word I see, "one" everywhere. Not just as a word but as an idea, sown like the destinctive, defining thread in a tapestry. One is the picture of two or more things that join and function as one. One as defined in the word is big, powerful, and beautiful.

The truly defining characteristic that God shows from the very beginning of creation is that he is relational and desires us to be one with Him and one with each other. This is the "One" truth and I believe it is the center of the Bible.

This idea has become so big to me that I am going to continue to write about it in this blog for a few weeks. This may even evolve into a book. Needless to say with the direction The Crossing has recently taken, The "One" Truth is about as relevant as any discussion we could have. So how's your oneness...with God and others. If One is the center is the one thing we have to get right!