Unity
Introduction
One of the most often used reasons that people do not attend church
services is they are confused by the vast number of groups who all
teach, believe and worship in different ways. I heard a man say one
time "there are as many churches in this town as there are different
bars. " His statement was true. He, like so many others, was
absolutely confounded as to why there is such a lack of unity among
people who all claim to worship the same God using His Word as our
guide. In an effort to be open and accepting the vast majority of
Christians have adopted the "I'm ok, you're ok " motto. While this
seems to create peace, this peace is only found on the surface for
behind this statement a torrent of confusion is sweeping the lost away.
Challenging Questions
Our culture has taught us not to question another person's religious
beliefs because this is somehow anti-American. The fact remains,
however, there is great diversity in Christendom today. Multiple
denominations and numerous "independent " churches exist within close
proximity to one another. This situation presents two questions that
must be asked and answered; 1) Is this diversity how God would want
Christianity to be, 2) Is this diversity harmful or helpful to the cause
of Christ? In this lesson we will attempt to answer these questions.
What Does God Want?
Our only window into the will and character of God is through His Word.
So the question; Is diversity how God would want Christianity to be can
only be answered by looking into this Word and drawing out what His
will is. Let's look at a few scriptures on this topic now.
Romans 12:16 (NKJV)
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high
things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion.
Over the years many people have asked why there are so many different
churches all claiming to be of the same God. For a long time I had no
answer to this question but God reveals something interesting in this
verse. He says the ability to remain humble and control our own
opinions will allow single-mindedness. In today's Christian world we
see a great many people, perhaps even in our own brotherhood, which lost
their humility and became so wise they became church leaders instead of
followers of God. We must ensure we humbly apply God's will over our
own and the natural result of this is unity.
Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV)
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded
toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one
mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have mentioned earlier how the diversity within the Christian world
has created confusion and misunderstanding outside the church. This
verse reproves this thought by stating like-mindedness allows us to
praise God with "one mind and one mouth. " If this were indeed the
case the confusion the world sees now would vanish away.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among
you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in
the same judgment.
Notice Paul's emphatic language in this verse as he pleads by the
highest authority possible, the name of the Lord, with members of the
church to; 1) speak the same thing, 2) have no divisions among us, 3) be
perfectly joined together, 4) share the same Christian mind, 4) have
the same Christian judgment. For the sake of emphasis let's reverse
these thoughts and see how outlandish it would be:
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you all speak many different and diverse things, and that there be
great divisions with the church, but that you be disjointed and separate
in many different minds and in many different judgments. "This
sounds like a recipe for confusion to me!
Eph 4:4-6 (NKJV)
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of
your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
This passage is so clear there are no notes needed. Does it, however, describe what we see in the world today? No!
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV)
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men
of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Some many say that the diversity is just simply a product of people
interpreting the Bible differently. Peter addresses that very issue and
emphasizes the point by telling us to know this principle first.
John chapter 17 is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt and revealing
passages in the entire Bible. Here Jesus, about to be crucified and
knowing He will be separated from them, is pleading with His Father on
behalf of His followers. You might say this prayer was His dying
request. Let's look at just a few verses from this passage (but please
read it in its entirety as well):
John 17:11 (NKJV)
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come
to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given
Me, that they may be one as We are.
In this verse Jesus is praying for His apostles that the Father gave
Him. He did not pray that they would have great wealth, a long life or a
happy existence. Instead, above all else, He prayed for their unity.
John 17:20-23 (NKJV)
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that
they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that
the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You
have loved Me.
Jesus expands His thoughts in prayer to include all who will believe in
Him in the future. Notice how He pleads over and over for oneness and
unity. Count the number of times He says "one. "
Conclusion
Our two questions have been thoroughly answered by God's Word and even our own experiences provide clarity for those answers:
Is diversity how God would want Christianity to be? The answer is a
resounding "no. " The scriptures plead, beg and demand that the
Christian faith be one of unity and that true unity can only be achieved
by a humble application of God's will in our lives. If the diversity
we see today is not the will of God, then whose device is it? Satan is
reaping the reward of millions of souls struggling to find their way
while confusion reigns.
Is diversity harmful or helpful to the cause of Christ? The lost are
screaming to us in a voice of unity that we should envy! "Harmful! "
We must clearly teach we are laboring toward a time when all Christendom
is united and speaks the same thing. God's pure and simple Word. It
must not be our desire to defeat, but to unite and please and praise the
Lord with one unified voice. Otherwise we leave the world to the
confusion authored by Satan.
How do we start? First, we must know what we believe is indeed God's
Word and Will. We must know our Bibles for ourselves and be able to
clearly explain what we believe not only to others, but to ourselves!
We must be able to discuss the truth of the scriptures with others and
lovingly correct when corrections are needed and humbly change when we
find ourselves amiss.
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