Christians have many ways to bridge our differences – ranging from local ministerial to worldwide networks like the Global Christian Forum (the organization I serve). But we often fail to take advantage of them, identifying ourselves with our narrowest affiliations rather than with the wider Christian community.
Comedian Emo Philips told a joke that captures this problem well:
Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said,
“Don’t do it!” He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What franchise?”
He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.1
Quoted from the November/December 2025 issue of Ecumenical Trends Magazine. The Paul Wattson Lecture, Chicago The Global Christian Forum: Reshaping the Global Ecumenical Landscape
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