(b) Important, but non-saving, truth. Used with permission. 2:14-22). We know that Christ has an incommunicable glory, which He did not receive and He does not bestow. 4:13), we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. This is practical unity that comes about as we grow to maturity by coming to know Jesus Christ in a deeper way. 4:3). Why We Should Be Honest - The Crosswalk Devotional - June 2. Id take my Bible and sit outside the chapel and read, while I listened to them proclaim their unity in Christ. Paul piles up the words for common-mindedness in Philippians 2:2, Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (see also Philippians 4:2). In the last five years, we have seen America become very polarized and divided, spewing words that are vitriolic and destructive. The core message of the apostolic witness centers on salvation through faith in the life, substitutionary death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The very analogy of being members of Christs body implies that all the members do not look the same or serve the same function. When does the battle in Ezekiel 38 take place? Through the Spirit, the triune God dwells in every believer! The more common danger, I think, is not the failure to love, but rather the failure to hold to sound doctrine. Im going to step on some toes here, but I think that its wrong to divide the church along ethnic or cultural lines, unless language is a factor. Our English word, "fellowship" is the translation of the Greek word, " koinonia ." This Greek word is derived from the root, " koinos ," which was a prefix in ancient Greek. So if Herod and Pilate are unified by their common scorn for Jesus (Luke 23:12), this is not a good unity. That leads to the third question: Jesus makes the staggering statement that the Father has loved us even as He loved Jesus! If you are a stranger to the Holy Spirit, you will care little for the unity he builds. The best picture we have of the Fathers love for us is when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Thus a believer can enjoy fellowship with any other believer, even if they go to different churches. 3 As we unite with our neighbors, we create strong communities and help spread the Savior's gospel throughout the world. Others require that you agree with their views of prophecy, abstaining from all use of alcohol and tobacco, women not using makeup or wearing pants, or other debatable matters. A second reason I dislike that chorus is more personal. Does John 12:25 Teach That We Must Hate Our Lives? We are skeptically cautious regarding most modern expressions of the gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, miracles, and prophecy. Due to significant differences in doctrine and practice, I cannot see any way that we could ever come together as one church in Flagstaff. As iron sharpens iron, in true Christian fellowship Christians sharpen one another's faith and stir one another to exercise that faith in love and good works, all to God's glory. When all is said and done, ambiguities remain. These issues wont affect how you live your Christian life. Lawlessness abounds. Perhaps this word of wisdom from the godly 19th century Anglican bishop, J. C. Ryle, is a fitting way to conclude (Light from Old Times [Evangelical Press], p. 455), Controversy and religious strife, no doubt, are odious things; but there are times when they are a positive necessity. In the early 1970s, I had the privilege of visiting the Body Life service at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, where the late Ray Stedman was the pastor. 4:13) the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Our unity deepens as we grow to know Christ as revealed in His word. 1:30; 6:11); yet, we must grow in sanctification (2 Cor. Jesus not only prayed for unity, but He gave the reasons that Christian unity is important: He asked that all believers may be one with the Father and the Son, "so that the world may believe that You have sent Me" (John 17:21). Harmonious relationships, whether in our homes or in the church, do not happen automatically or effortlessly. This leads Leon Morris (The Gospel According to John [Eerdmans], p. 734) to interpret the glory that He gives to all of His disciples: just as His true glory was to follow the path of lowly service culminating in the cross, so for them the true glory lay in the path of lowly service wherever it might lead them. (D. A. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus [Baker], p. 198, concurs.) But in the grand scheme of things, many of us seemto rank unity as a pretty low priority. Jerry Bridges writes in his book, The Pursuit of Holiness,The clause make every effort addresses itself to our wills, it is something we must decide to do.. Remember the reason unity is so important: that the world may believe. When we let our preferences, agendas, and personalities divide us,we might as well say, I dont care if the world believes.. Jesus wants us to live in oneness and unity. Nor can we live out Ephesians 4:3 until we cultivate and live out the truth of Ephesians 4:2, which says,with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.. But we can piece together several verses that steer us in the right direction. At the top of the list of advantages of Christian education is the commitment Christian schools make at all levels to teach the Word of God. He would have just been another created being. In reliance on the word and the Spirit, in humility we will arrive home together. 2:13-16). God has mandated that our conduct positively impact the churchs unity. 10:14-15), How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? Why/why not? 42:8). Lead toward unity! Christians Need to Begin Making Every Effort to Live in Unity, Part 1", Why Unity is Important for America (and the Church). Charles Stanley In Touch Ministries Sep 30, 2021 Paul wrote [ 1 Corinthians 1:10 -17] in a letter to the divided body of Corinthian believers. 4:7), What do you have that you did not receive? 3:18). (2) Important, but non-saving, truth. Jesus compares this unity with that which exists between Him and the Father (John 17:21): that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, Jesus and the Father are eternally one in their shared nature as God. Have you experienced the love of God for you in Christ at the cross? Some examples: Biblical prophecy; Calvinism vs. Arminianism; views of baptism; charismatic gifts; roles of men and women in the church and home; church government; Christians and psychology; and, views of creation. Have you struggled on the personal level with where to draw lines of fellowship? Do this for the glory of God. We could call this positional unity.. We could call this practical unity. Its a work in progress. We are not without rudder and sails. 4, 201, emphasis added). What criteria apply. Ronnie W. Floyd But every week, theyd march to the chapel and join together, under the liberal chaplain, singing, We are one in the Spirit. I attended once, but after what I saw and heard, I couldnt go again. In 1 Peter 3:8, Peter urges the exiled Christians to have 'unity of mind . It was kind of eerie, but it had nothing to do with true Christian unity! Seek to be led by the Spirit and to bear the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18, 2223) for these are the cogs in the wheels of love. The subject of unity is further complicated by the fact that there are different levels of unity. Psalm 96:3-4 connects the evangelizing of the peoples with the quality of praise that God deserves. Spirit-rooted, Christ-manifesting, truth-cherishing, humbly-loving unity is designed by God to have at least two aims: a witness to the world, and an acclamation of the glory of God. None of these is fully possible if a church is divided, whether physically or mentally. 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: HEAR THE STORY Paul pulls out all the rhetorical stops in these few verses (2:1-4 is a single sentence) to galvanize the Philippians' heart, soul, and mind toward a vision of unity within their church. Unity itself is neutral until it is given goodness or badness by something else. This occurs just as stated in 1 Corinthians 12:13, For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.. We must hold the line.We must stick together. If the church could display to the world the unity between these groups that Christ secured on the cross, it would be a powerful witness. If Jesus were just a good man or a great teacher, He would not be able to die on the cross and save us. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 4:1-2), we are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] 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. After talking about the unity of the body in Colossians (3:11), Paul adds (Col. 3:12-14). Second, Jesus says that the Father has loved us, even as He has loved Jesus! Everything is to accord with Christ. May God . Jesus can stand in the gap for us because of His deity. . This is why Jesus' prayer and desire for us as His Church is to live in unity and oneness. It says,Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace., We cannot live out Ephesians 4:3 apart from Gods grace that we have received freely. "Perhaps there has never been a more important time for neighbors all around the world to stand together for the common good of one another," he said. The ideal (unity) and the real (division) do not always match up in the life of the church. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. Suddenly, it dawned on me, My parents must love me as much as I love my baby daughter! Then it further hit me, The heavenly Father loves me far more than any earthly father can love his children!. My name is Charlotte, and I live in Yorkshire, England. Enduring the harmful results . We know Jesus prayed that we all may become perfectly one (John 17:23). The bible tells us to do nothing out of rivalry or conceit (Phil 2:3), but . Salem Media Group. It is Jesus who draws us together and the power of the Holy Spirit that make our bond stronger. Join our mailing list to receive the latestblog posts as soon as they are published. the fruit of the Spirit) in us. The call from Jesus for us to live in unity is found in the Bible in multiple passages of Scripture. We are to work endlessly toward unity and oneness, guarding over it when we have it. Ironically, some of these seven items (the Holy Spirit; prophecy [one hope]; and baptism) have created significant divisions in the church! 28:19). However, that is the farthest thing from the truth. Unity is best . Unity among two or more people gets its virtue entirely from something else. As always, Jesus was right: Through our unity with others, the world will know by our testimony that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Should an evangelical church work with a church that denies the gospel to help prevent abortions? Hence Paul prays, May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They surround us and keep us together. The love of the Father for the Son is eternal and infinite. 1. Hate serious blunders, not sincere brothers. 1. While many in today's world are engaged in celebrating "diversity," the Bible places an extraordinary emphasis on the value of "unity." Jesus believes the only way people will believe God sent Him to be the Savior of the world is through the testimony of the Church living in unity and oneness. All rights reserved. They even gestured and sounded like him when they talked. Paul says that pastors and teachers are to equip the saints until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13). Some of these issues border on essential doctrines; but we need to recognize that those who differ from us on these matters are still true believers in Jesus Christ. New life in Christ is the only basis for true unity. So this is a great gift that all followers of Christ share in, this unity. The reason Jesus gave for onenessis so that the world may know that God sent Jesus. Those who hold a different view are free to join us as long as they do not promote their views and cause division. Hold fast to the word preached by the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:2). We seek to grow in the unity of the faith and to hold our convictions with humility, but we cant do that by compromising what the Lord has taught us. In that sense, God does not share His glory with anyone (Isa. Why is Christian Unity so Important? We're not meant to live the Christian life in isolation. Stop dumbing down spiritually through continual skepticism, constant criticism, and incessant cynicism. Do not quarrel over opinions (Romans 14:1). But after loving God, the second great commandment is that we love others even as we do in fact love ourselves (Matt. For example, some will fellowship only with those who use the 1611 King James Bible. Ill look at practical unity under point three. In 2010, Flagstaff was approximately 64 percent white, 2 percent Black, 12 percent Native American, 18 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent Asian. Jesus founded one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. But both councils are notoriously theologically and politically liberal and inclusive of denominations that deny or compromise the gospel. Our subject is Christian unity: Jesus hits it three times in these four verses (John 17:21, 22, 23), so we cant miss it. 1. The ecumenical movement seeks to recover the apostolic sense of the early church for unity in diversity, and it confronts the frustrations, difficulties, and ironies of the modern pluralistic . We are often the only Bible that people read. In Ephesians 4:3, Paul says that we are to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The unity of the Spirit is already a fact for believers, but we must be diligent to preserve it. But the church is to show Christs love across racial, cultural, generational, and economic divides as we worship together and care for one another. We are living in contradiction of Jesus desire in John 17. Why? Do we create suspicion and division rather than unity and oneness? What kinds of boundaries should define local churches, schools, denominations, conferences, para-church ministries, city-wide prayer gathering, evangelistic efforts? Lets pray for discernment and graciously strive for unity and love with all that know Christ without compromising the gospel or minimizing important truth! We are not one with those who deny the apostolic gospel. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. It also defies the Scripture and is not the life we are called to live within the body of Jesus Christ. On the other side of the spectrum, in an attempt to preserve the purity of the church, some Christians divide from everyone who does not agree with them on even minor issues. If you want the world to hear and believe the Good News, then one of the things you MUST do is be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Jesus' plan for His church is people unified in the faith. Ecumenism is a vision, a movement, a theology, and a mode of action. This is vastly more deeply more than being related through a common organization. By our godly lives, by our verbal witness to the person and work of Christ, and by our visible unity with all true believers, we proclaim to the world the truth that God sent His Son to pay for the sins and give eternal life to all that believe (John 3:16). Jesus says that through it, "the world may believe" that the Father has sent him into the world to save it. . Love one another with brotherly affection (Romans 12:10). Why is Christian unity so important? 1. "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! It is in large part doctrinal unity, shared by those who understand on an experiential level what the Bible reveals about who Jesus is. There are three broad levels of Bible doctrines: (a) Essential truths, necessary for salvation. Why is there so much religious diversity in the worldor even in the community of "Christendom"? Being one body in Christ does not mean that we all must look alike, talk alike, and enjoy the same kinds of activities. They consistently used foul speech and bragged about their sexual exploits. 4:4-6): 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., I cannot comment on these seven elements here (see my sermon, The Basis for Christian Unity, 2/3/08, on this text). Just as fishermen cannot catch fish with a broken net, we are unable to effectively share Jesus with the world when our fellowship is not intact. Are your actions and words strengthening your fellow Christians? Why Christian Unity is So Very Important by Wes | Apr 26, 2017 | Church We all know "unity" is a biblical concept. What a staggering statement! Unity is always best for every relationship, family, church, friendship, workplace, school, team, and government. He is author of. Christ was not praying for a one-world church organized under one leader and church government. And how will they hear without a preacher? When we are born again and become children of God, we share in the divine nature (John 1:12-13; 2 Pet. It is important to understand that there are two types of unity in the Bible. There are three broad levels of Bible doctrines: (1) Essential truths, necessary for salvation. To deny any of these would be heresy and a denial of the faith. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. It represents the universality of the people of God and affects the way Christians . How do we determine where to draw doctrinal lines for church membership without becoming divisive? How do we determine which doctrines are essential and which are important, but not essential? Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. While the human will determines the needed action, we must understand there is no true unity apart from the Holy Spirit. Dr. Ronnie Floydis the Senior Pastor ofCross Church, President of theNational Day of Prayer, and founder of theCross Church School of Ministry. Christian unity is a state of oneness, living in harmony and in one accord. He insists (Col. 3:11) that in the church, there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. When people who are divided in the world display their love for one another in the local church, the world takes notice. Why? Rather, its bound up with our common relationship with the Triune God. This is why Jesus prayer and desire for us as His Church is to live in unity and oneness. Lets focus on where we agree and set aside the areas where we disagree. So sound doctrine gets jettisoned in favor of everyone joining hands and singing, We are One in the Spirit. But the resulting unity is not true biblical unity. We see the same thing in our text: In verses 21 & 22, Jesus prays that those who believe in Him would be one, even as He and the Father are one. ecumenism, movement or tendency toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation. Again, lead toward unity! The unbelieving world should look at the church and realize that there is something unnatural happening here. 12:13). The beauty of the body is that it functions as one body although it consists of many different members. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. (c) Interesting, but not essential or important matters. It was kind of eerie, but it had nothing to do with true Christian unity! Surely such is not the ideal will of God. Thankfully, in 2002 there were only about five congregations of the latter group left (wickipedia.org). Some of these issues are more important in that they border on essential doctrines (e.g., some issues in Calvinism vs. Arminianism deal with salvation and the gospel). The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one (John 17:22). What produces the kind of strength we need to patiently and joyfully endure? What Does it Mean to Rejoice in the Lord Always? 4:3). Unity in the church is an important theme in Christianity . He says (John 17:20), I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word. Note two things: Jesus is not praying for the entire world here (John 17:9). of But thats the same as the Galatian heresy. Or do you gossip, express negativity, and push your own preferences and opinions? Ironically, there are widespread differences of opinion on the subject of unity among those who profess to follow Christ. I remember holding our firstborn child in my arms and feeling my love for her well up as I gazed into her tiny face. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2017, All Rights Reserved. Proud member Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. So now you know why that wont be our closing song today! (3) Interesting, but not essential or important matters. grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). This is simply to say unity MUST be one of our highest priorities, because itis atestimony to the deity of Jesus. Christian unity in the New Testament gets its goodness from a combination of its source, its views, its affections, and its aims. Under this second point, Im looking at positional unity. Notice the intensity of hate and love. All who are baptized in Christ are united by "one Lord, one faith, one baptism " (Ephesians 4:5). Senior Pastor,Cross Church Jesus prays (John 17:22), The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one. What does Jesus mean? Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2015, All Rights Reserved. In Pauls day, the divide between Jews and Gentiles was huge. God himself brings about our unity and makes us one. Tragically, when differences are divisive, our mission becomes blurred and we are ineffective. While we may hold differing views on baptism, charismatic gifts, prophecy, etc. 2:14-22.) Unity and peace are very delightful; but they are bought too dear if they are bought at the expense of truth. Christian unity is important because Christ died to secure it and it is a major factor in our witness to the world. Were all on the same team. Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Fleshly Schisms. Anything beyond that is opinion and speculation; we can certainly discuss our opinions, but we must not quarrel and divide over them. We can work toward harmony in any community in which we find ourselves. The unity of believers is a testimony to the deity of Jesus. We do not create Christian unity. Nevertheless we are not without anchors. Christian unity is not organization or external, but rather is based on shared life in Jesus Christ. How will they preach unless they are sent? From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. It is a feeling of endearment. Share, by every means you can, what you see of Christ. But the definition of words must bedetermined by how they wereactually used, not by their etymology. In the New Testament, the local church was primarily defined by the city: the church in Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, or wherever. I hate his High Churchism, but I love George Herbert from my very soul, and I have a warm corner in my heart for every man who is like him. But Paul emphasized that the glory of the church is that Christ removed the barrier between those two diverse groups and made them one (Eph. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. It includes affectionate love, not just sacrifice for those you dont like. Jesus created each of us uniquely. Or do we act like our generation is always the best? Here are just three reasons why unity is a value we must pursue: 1) It is theologically crucial. Our unity is based on our common salvation in Christ and our common glory in Christ. Among the Baptists alone, there are dozens of different groups, including the Southern Baptists, American Baptists, Conservative Baptists, Calvinistic Baptists, Free Will Baptists, General Baptists, Landmark Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Old Regular Baptists, Old Time Missionary Baptists, Seventh Day Baptists, and Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists! Writing to the factious Corinthian church, Paul devotes the bulk of 1 Corinthians 12 to the analogy of the church as the one body of Christ, made up of many diverse but essential members. Our human nature, preferences, and different interpretations of Scripture can cause disagreements. This phrase calls us to be eager and conscientious in everything we do. But both councils are notoriously theologically and politically liberal and they include denominations that deny or compromise the gospel. Its centered on our common salvation. When the subject of unity comes up, I always think of the familiar chorus, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and why I cant stand that song. So its important to discern the level of importance of a doctrine before you debate it with another Christian or divide from him over it. All rights reserved. We glorify Him as we are more and more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. The glory of God. To use the familiar phrase from Christian weddings, What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Since Christ died for the unity of the church, it is an extremely important subject that we must labor to preserve and display. Here are just three reasons why unity is a value we must pursue: 1) It is theologically crucial. Politics will not heal us. What is it, and why is it important? Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. The first fact concerns the meaning of the Greek root. Be careful. But genuine believers differ on these matters. It is frequently misapplied when people say, They will know that we are Christians by our love, not by our doctrinal agreement. We might call these positional unity, which is a fact; and practical unity, which is a work in progress. Neither should we! We need to get rid of the spirit of competition among Bible-believing churches where the gospel is preached and Christ is exalted. Were on a mission to change that. Unity only happens with God. Jesus not only prayed for unity, but He gave the reasons that Christian unity is important: He asked that all believers may be in the Father and the Son, "so that the world may believe that you have sent me" ( John 17:21 ). Jesus believes the only way people will believe God sent Him to be the Savior of the world is through the testimony of the Church living in unity and oneness. First, the Trinity matters because Jesus had to be fully God to save us. But consider what Spurgeon says and seek to become like him. Now is the time for the Church to choose unity rather than division. Paul illustrates the first type of schism in his blunt reproof of the Corinthian church: I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.. Some examples: Gods sovereignty versus human free will in our salvation; views of baptism; church government; biblical prophecy; old earth or young earth creation; charismatic gifts; roles of men and women in the church and home; Christians and psychology; and, divorce and remarriage. Controversy, in fact, is one of the conditions under which truth in every age has to be defended and maintained, and it is nonsense to ignore it.. cite William Barclay (The Gospel of John [Westminster], 2:219): We must never think of our cross as our penalty; we must think of it as our glory. 12:13). Back in the early 1970s, I knew many hippie young people who got swept up in the Local Church movement under the Chinese leader, Witness Lee. It is in the midst of a difference that we have our golden opportunity. 1:15-18). And the philosophical and emotional climate today makes it even harder since truth claims are only seen as a cloak for power-grabbing. If the Church refuses to do this, who will? Why Are We to Wait on the Lord and Be of Good Courage? Our visible unity should cause unbelievers to want to be a part of the church. Organizations such as the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches are prominent in promoting organizational or external unity among various denominations. That display of Christs love resulted in many unbelievers coming to see what was going on and eventually coming to faith in Christ. Second, while we need walls of separation both as individuals and as a church, those walls may be different on the individual and corporate levels. I ask that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me (John 17:21). When Jesus prayed for all those who believe in Him through the word of the apostles to be one, he gave a reason. We are to have affection for those who are our family in Christ. 1:27): Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Our common mission is to fulfill the Great Commission, to make disciples of all the nations (Matt. When I was in Coast Guard boot camp, as far as I could tell, none of my fellow recruits in my company were believers. It took the cross to break down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles and to reconcile these two formerly alienated groups into one body in the church. We see peopleunite for their cause,and sometimes the cause can become destructive by dividing a family, a church, a nation, and even the world. these should not keep us from being one body in Christ. Lifeway Research, a ministry of Lifeway Christian Resources, 15 Things You Might Forget to Be Thankful For, How Pastors Can Work Together for Community Transformation, The Leadership Formula: Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in the Church, Most Popular Sermon Passages, Topics in 2021, Plan for Evangelism: How a Biblical Understanding of Evangelism Calls for Intentionality. But they also insisted that in addition to faith a man must be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses to be saved. Or do we create division and suspicion with an attitude of criticism that is certainly not from Jesus Christ? If God uses us to impart a deeper knowledge of the truth to another believer, it will come through our kindness and love, not through spiritual pride. Unity is a powerful force that will build relationships and draw us closer together. The harder the task we give a student, or a craftsman, or a surgeon, the more we honour him. 4:3). Where is the Church? Today, we face the constant temptation of mixing our yes and no, all in an effort not to offend, get along, and make peace. There should not be Jewish churches, Gentile churches, Black churches or Native American churches. Its largest groups are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern . For example: Who were the sons of God in Genesis 6? A biblical theology of unity reveals a richer and deeper understanding of unity than mere uniformity, but it also holds out the goal of visible . Are we really one with every group that claims to be Christian, even if they claim that we must add our good works to faith in Christ to be saved? "The Bible nowhere promises that the pursuit of unity won't be as hard as it often is." This is the unity Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Christ accomplished this unity on the cross (Eph. The spirit of the age is ruling. Earlier he gave his Apostles (and us) a new commandment: "love one another as I have loved you.". FATHER ALAN: Christian unity is, first of all, a spiritual reality! Being one body in Christ does not mean that we all must look alike, talk alike, and enjoy the same kinds of activities. So the practical question is, How do we preserve the unity of the Spirit and perfect the unity of the faith? Im suggesting seven (the perfect number!) This is a call to action! California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The word emphasizes our being brought together under the banner of King Jesus. It brings us together into the one worldwide family of God. When we unite, we can unite in the name of a cause or whatever our passion is. Unity is testimonial. The church should be as racially and culturally diverse as the community. Probably in larger cities, these churches gathered in numerous house churches, since churches did not construct buildings for worship until the fourth century. This phrase also gives us a sense that we are in a crisis and calls us to take initiative, and to do it now. How do we determine where to draw doctrinal lines for church membership without becoming divisive? The same is true of those who hold to the validity of the charismatic gifts for today. Are we making every effort to live in unity and oneness with all ethnicities? Are we making every effort to live in unity and oneness with our friends? Paul tells us to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). If disunity occurs, it essentially ceases to be a body and becomes a disjointed group of individuals. So if all Christians base their beliefs on the Bible, they should be able to settle every argument according to its truth, right? When everything is going well and we are all standing around in a nice little circle, there is not much to be seen by the world. When we are not multi-ethnic as a ministry, we are irrelevant to our culture, and this will soon result in us becoming a ministry of the past. It is important to understand that there are two types of unity in the Bible. I honestly dont know how to overcome some of the divisions in the church at large. Did Christ descend into hell (1 Pet. (2) What is biblical Christian unity? 2:14-22.) In the creed catholic is spelled with the lower case "c" to mean ecumenical, universal, or all over the land. ], Following having a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, our greatest need is each other. Paul knew the steep danger of dissension among believers. Since the 19th century the term ecumenism has denoted the movement of the renewal, unity, and mission of Christians and churches of different traditions "so that the world may believe.". 12:21). The Bible is chock full of verses that command us to love one other, despite our differences. Where the Spirit of God is there must be love, and if I have once known and recognized any man to be my brother in Christ Jesus, the love of Christ constraineth me no more to think of him as a stranger or foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Now is the time to make every effort to live in unity together. On an even wider level, churches may join together even with non-Christian groups to work for laws protecting the unborn, laws supporting the traditional family, anti-drug laws, etc. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Jesus is leading the greatest diversity movement in the history of the world, His Church. Yes, of course, we are coming out of the world, but that is not the emphasis of the word. It is a fact, and yet we must be diligent to preserve it. I would never endorse a unity or prayer service that included churches that deny the gospel. Whenbelievers cannot get along with one another, it preventsthe world from believing in Christ. The main idea is: Because Christian unity is so important, we need to think biblically about what it means and how to apply it. While we will spend eternity trying to fathom the depths of the Fathers love for us, it should be increasingly influencing our daily lives. These truths affect how we live as Christians, the way we understand God, man, salvation, the Christian life, etc. Listen to the Lord: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. We should welcome into church membership all whom Christ has saved as long as those with differing views on secondary matters agree not to cause factions over those differences. Churches today have a lot of values. Be humble. Many Christian schools, from the elementary level on up, have specific classes or courses where . As I said, Paul did not come together on common ground with the Judaizers. In the past, churches have chosen to unite, recognizing and appreciating important theological variances that are more secondary in nature. Are we making every effort to live in unity and oneness with other churches that believe the basics of the faith like we do? While far more could be said (I have at least three messages on the unity of the church on the church website), in this message I will address three questions: (1) Why is Christian unity important? Do we tie our success as a church to continually becoming more multi-generational and more multi-ethnic in a visible way? Now I hate High Churchism as my soul hates Satan; but I love George Herbert, although George Herbert is a desperately High Churchman. The American way compels us to live independently of one another. President,National Day of Prayer. There are not hundreds of thousands of churches, but one Church,the Church of Jesus Christ our Lord. Government cannot fix us. Although we have different gifts and different callings, our common purpose is to glorify God in all that we do (1 Cor. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. These include: The inspiration and authority of the Bible; the trinity; the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ; His substitutionary death on the cross; His bodily resurrection and second coming; and, salvation by grace through faith alone, apart from works. I take that to mean that the Holy Spirit is the great giver of unity. The apostle John makes the first of these most clear. Paul wrote [1 Corinthians 1:1017] in a letter to the divided body of Corinthian believers. But, how can the world believe in Jesus? For this reason, we allow those who do not share our Baptist views on baptism to join this church as long as they dont promote or teach their different views here. 7:1; 1 Thess. As recorded in John 17:21, Jesus stated,May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. They include minor interpretive issues on difficult texts; some methods that are not mandated by Scripture; and other issues. Christian unity. While unite is a verb and is something you do, unity is a noun. Of course, Christian unity is more than shared truth, but not less. He is not praying for inter-faith unity among all Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, as promoted by many inter-faith prayer services this past week. 4. The word ekklesia was not used to emphasizeseparateness, but togetherness. Then, what is it? And it's vital for our witness; Jesus authorized the unbelieving world to judge whether or not the Father sent Him into the world based on the church's visible unity (John 17:21). The idea is to set aside the areas we differ and come together on common ground. Unity is absolutely essential because the church is the "body of Christ" ( 1 Corinthians 12:27 ), and a body cannot be in disunity or disharmony with itself. Scripture describes the experience of unity as "good and pleasant" ( Psalm 133:1 ), and it commands all Christians to diligently pursue "being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord" ( Philippians 2:2 ). Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Morris (p. 735) and Carson (ibid.) But we need to be careful that our common association does not imply to the public that we agree on spiritual matters. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father. The unity of the church is to be a reflection of the unity of the one God upon which the church is built. The idea is to set aside the areas we differ and come together on common ground. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. A. Christian unity is important because Christ died to secure it. Why/why not? This was illustrated in the Evangelicals and Catholics Together statement that was signed by many prominent Christian leaders in the 1990s. We all know unity is a biblical concept. That statement confused and compromised the essential truth of the Reformation, that we are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone, apart from works. The church was allowing a disagreement to hinder their fellowship. My question for you has puzzled me for years. Christian schools teach the Bible, and all the other academic subjects are integrated with biblical truth. I want to try to help you understand what true Christian unity is by answering three questions: What is Christian unity? But now, churches divide over everything from extreme theological views to things like politics, economics, morality, and social justice issues. As I have said before, I say again: America is broken. But genuine believers differ on these matters. The church was allowing a disagreement to hinder their fellowship. Its interesting to me that occasionally I will hear Christians say that the Greek word ekklesia (which we translate church), means called out. This, of course, would imply separateness. You see, the peace and love of Jesus are the adhesives of Gods people. The reason Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, prayed for unity in John 17 is because that's what his Father wanted the unity of his people. The Judaizers claimed to believe in Jesus as their Savior. Dark Movements That Promote "Unity" and are not from God: Ecumenism: Unitarian Universalism: Conclusion 1. The Holy Spirit is the only One who gives unity among people. Why is it important? Suddenly, they cut off their long hair and beards and started wearing white shirts with narrow black ties, just as Witness Lee did. Also, Jesus explains what this glory entails in John 17:23: I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. There are two parts to this: First, I in them and You in Me points to Christs indwelling us through the Holy Spirit, who is given to all who believe. Unite is a verb. The words ofEphesians 4:3are inescapable. Here are some things we need to doto maintain unity: Maintaining unity is relational and it is doctrinal. Unity was created when,in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). Gods aim for this vertically-rooted, horizontal, glory-displaying unity is that he might gather into one the children of God scattered abroad (John 11:52). but how do we get it?TWEET THIS VIDEO: ht. I could spend several more messages on some of the practical ramifications of our Lords teaching here, but Ill try to list a couple of things that you can explore further (see, also, my article on the church web site, Separation Versus Cooperation). Again, while we may differ with other believers over secondary matters, as long as they proclaim the truth of the gospel, we should rejoice that Christ is being proclaimed (Phil. 12:13). Scripture is clear about the churchs mission. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. This leads to a selfish and oftentimes destructive life. I believe the same is true of your church, denomination, or ministry you are part of or may even lead. First, while we must strive to love and accept all whom Christ has truly saved, we also must be careful not to compromise essential biblical truth. That word is recorded for us in the New Testament, which the Holy Spirit inspired them to write (John 14:26; 16:13, 14). How do we determine which doctrines are essential and which are important, but not essential? Even though the world may not see it very clearly, as we are perfected in unity, they will get a glimpse of the glory of God (e.g. So there are gray areas between each of the categories. Christian unity is not organizational or external unity. We attain to the unity of the faith by coming to (Eph. For the sake of a witness to the world, seek out ways to show love for brothers and sisters across boundaries both the kind of boundaries that should be removed, and the kind of boundaries which commitment to the truth (and unity in the truth) forbids you to remove. The word ekklesia means gathering or assembly. It is about individuals being called together. Jesus said that if we did, "all will know that you are my disciples.". Or do we check our Christianity at the door and think we can live whatever way we desire when we are at home with our family? I want to bring this two-part article to a conclusion by sharing five facts about unity. The Father answered Jesus prayer for His people to be one through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who baptizes every believer into the one body of Christ (1 Cor. For example, humility leads to gentleness; gentleness leads to patience; patience leads to bearing one another in love, and all four of these together lead us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Are we making every effort to live in unity and oneness with all generations? I say thankfully, because they teach that everyone is predestined to be either good seed or bad seed and therefore mission activity is both unbiblical and useless! 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