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Unity in the Church
Joh_17:23 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.
Rom_15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
Eph_4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Eph_4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We, as the body of Christ (the church universal and local), are called to a life of unity with one another. Much is made about the discord within churches (and that is not new, just read 1 and 2 Corinthians) today.
The question I want to post this morning is two fold:
1) What is right with the church today. We, including me, can easily bash the bride of Christ and forget that there is so much right with the church. Share what you believe is right with the church. You may focus on the local church, the universal or both.
2) What is unity and what does it look like in the body of Christ, again both locally and universally.
In advance, thanks for replying.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Colby on
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Each of us is called to build up the body of Christ, which is the church. Even though we may worship in different denominations or nondenominational churches, house churches, emergent churches, or para-church organizations, we are first and foremost part of the body of Christ. There is, as Paul the Apostle wrote in Ephesians 4:1-6, "one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all."
Paul emphasized the need for unity in when he wrote to the Church at Corinth, which was becoming factionalized and quarrelsome. "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Cor 1:10).
A house divided against itself cannot stand. Working together in faith, hope and love and putting Christ first is how we build one another and the body of Christ.
As Christians, we are first and foremost people who know, follow, serve, and love Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and regard the Bible as the inspired Word of God--the final authority in all matters of faith, doctrine, morality and practice.
Unity within diversity: Is it possible? Can we put aside our differences and come together and have one heart, one voice, and one mind?
I doubt that the church will ever achieve unity in the sense that everyone will agree on everything. But we can work to bridge the differences between us. How? With God's grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. By focusing on the essentials of faith that we do agree on instead of amplifying our differences on non-salvific matters. By finding tangible ways to love one another and to manifest God's love in the world.
There's a quote often attributed to Augustine that sums things up nicely for me. "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity."
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Permalink Reply by Grazer #E2H on
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I agree with the overall sentiments of Colby but I doubt you'll get true unity until Christ returns. People have minds that work differently to one another
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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I totally agree. There are many times that Paul tells the church what to do with quarrels they have with each other. He wouldn't have wrote that if he believed there would be 100% unity.
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True enough, Grazer, but we should not let that deter us from striving for unity as Paul urges us to do.
As brothers in Christ, it begins with you and me. Despite our differences, we nonetheless share a common transcending, overriding and overarching objective: to incarnate the teachings and example of Jesus Christ in our lives and to share the Gospel and advance the Kingdom of God on Earth.
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I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ. Gandhi
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Thanks to everyone who has replied thus far. Let me take a different approach on this as we recognize that there is not unity in all things within the body of Christ. The quote Colby added is essential, "There's a quote often attributed to Augustine that sums things up nicely for me. "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity."
With that said let's look at something Jesus said. In John 17 Jesus prayed "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (v.23 italics mine). The context here is a process of moving us toward unity (perfection). This brings Phlippians 1:6 into play as we recognize that we are not finished yet, but are being completed. Salvation has three components seen as past (Justification and regeneration), present (sanctification), and future (glorification).
Taking this past, present, and future understanding and applying it to unity we find an interesting truth. Past relates to the day we were born again. We are one in spirit as we become the body of Christ. Present relates to our way of thinking and living. We are being renewed in our minds, but we are not a finished product. If we were then Pauls words in Romans 12:2 would be redundant at best when he says "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (italic mine). Renewing is an ongoing process. Future relates to the glorious day in the future when we are called home and given new bodies. Then we will be fully unified. There will no longer be a need to renew our minds as they have been fully changed at that time.
So, what is the point of this? While we are in the earthen vessels we will have differences. These differences are partly caused by what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." I also find it interesting that this verse is found in what we commonly call the love chapter. Could Paul be pointing us to recognize our differences and yet still abide in love? Food for thought.
*Scripture used NIV
Lord Bless,
LT
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LT,
I do believe that acknowledging our differences while coming together in love to work collaboratively to advance God's kingdom on Earth is precisely what Paul is pointing to. We need to need to spend less time "minoring in the majors" and focus instead on the heart of the Gospel message, which is being instruments of God's love and saving grace in the world.
In the 13th Chapter of Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians, he says that with our finite minds and human imperfection, we "look through a glass darkly." Our humanity limits our capacity to see things as God sees them, to discern all things clearly and with precision. Thus, our knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures is likewise limited. Our discernment in spiritual matters is clouded by our pride, by our prejudices, and by our petty narrow-mindedness.
Fortunately, we worship a God who is never stumped by our limited capacities, imperfect understanding, and bad choices. Humility is required on part to acknowledge the profound truth that we "look through a glass darkly."
We know that what was largely at stake in the church at Philippi was the issue of unity. They were in disagreement about something. Paul exhorts them to “Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind.”
“Let your bearing towards one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus.” Accepting our humanity and humility, and caring are some of the qualities of that bearing. This means that in Christ we experience being accepted by a holy, humble God who cares for us, who attends to us, who holds us and that we are asked to give this away. This is what Paul hoped that the Philippians would bear in mind in whatever controversy they were having that threatened their unity.
It’s not too far a stretch to see how relevant Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is to us, today, as we talk about the strife, contention and splintering of the Church.
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Colby,
Excellent comments. I do hope others will chime in as well on this subject.
Lord Bless,
LT
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LT
I suppose we could spenda lot of time "bashing the bride of Christ" as you stated, but we would need to " remove the beams from our own eyes " first. There is much that disturbs me about the church ( both local and universal) but that doesn't mean that either is wrong because I disagree with anything they practice.
Having said that I don't know what Christians do without the fellowship and encouragement that is received by the local as well as universal church. It is a real comfort sometimes just to see that their are others of like persuasion, especially after spending long hours working around people who can really wear on your confidence in your faith. Especially those who want to judge all preachers, Chrisyians and religion itself by the actions of a few who have really gone off the deep end(so to speak).
This also addresses the positive influence of the 'universal church'. By that I simply mean that is so precious to one who has lived in so many places to know that wherever I go I can find those who share by faith and confidence in the Lord. That makes a world of difference to someone who has movedfrom one completely different physical enviroment as often as I have. I guess that is why I like to read Christian books so much. It encourages me to know that their are many true Christians in other parts of the world and at every other time in history.
I must say that I also love the quote that Colby posted in His comments about " In essentials,unity: in non essentialsliberty: and in all things, charity". If only we could all follow that. Especially the part about the "non essentials". I really hate to see it when the church ( local and universal) fighting and fussing over the " non essentials".
I like where Paul reduces the gospel down to the bare bones in I Cor.15:1-4
" Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospelwhich I preached unto you, which also you received, Aand WHEREIN YOU STAND ( CAPITALS MINE).
By which also YOU ARE SAVED, if you keep in memory that which I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how tha Christ DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the scriptures;
And that HE WAS BURIED, and that HE ROSE AGAIN according to the scriptures". (All capitals mine)
These are (in my opinion) the 'essentials'. They are by no means the entirety of the word but they are they foundation and greatest potential source of unity.
I love the story about C.H.Surgeon where he was invited to speak in a revival in London. He spoke 4 nights in a row using the text of John 3:16. After the third night the very nervous leaders of the church asked Him why he was preaching on the same text every night. His reply was something like this : "Until the people have grasped this basic concept I cannot proceed on the 'meat' of the word".
He was , in my opinion, concerned with laying a strong foundation before he build anything else on it. Therein, again in my opinion, is the foundational basis for unity.
I believe that Paul's most powerful ( if I may use that term) statement regarding the way of achieving the unity the Lord desires is where he states " Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus". If we can all get that down pat I believe ( again in my opinion only) that we would be well onthe way to the unity that the Lord desires.
I also love that way the Lord has lead me to many different denominations because , by doing this he has allowed me to see that there are devoted christians in almost all denominations. Not a one of them has the exclusive on the gospel. I guess that is why I shudder when I hear such criticism about people who have come to love and respect, simply because they are of a different denomination.
As I look back on what I've written I hope that I have not been too 'negative' because I certainly do not , by any means intend to down grade the only institution ( FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD) that hold out any hope for us and the world as well.
God bless
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