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Unity in the Church

During my journey towards becoming a “Christian”, I have often wondered which was the correct the church to attend. I have heard much of the bickering between different denominations and even the claim that “We are the true religion and the only ones going to heaven.” I couldn’t understand why if all believed in Christ then what made one right and the others wrong.

 

Before we go any further I would like to give you the definition of “Church”, “Denomination” and “Christian”.

 

I am using The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language as a source of each definition.

 

The definition of “church” is:

  1. A building for public, especially Christian worship
  2. Often Church
    1. The company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual body.
    2. A specified Christian denomination: the Presbyterian Church.
    3. A congregation.
  3. Public divine worship in a church; a religious service: goes to church at Christmas and Easter.
  4. The clerical profession; clergy.
  5. Ecclesiastical power as distinguished from the secular: the separation of church and state

The definition of “Denomination” is:

 

A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy.

 

The definition of “Christian” is:

  1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
  2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus’ teachings.
  3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christ like.
  4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
  5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

Paul appeals to us in his letter to the Philippians’ that as Christians we are called to be united with Christ. (Philippians 2:1-2 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.)

 

In order to gain any of the benefits mentioned in verse 1 means that we should have a personal relationship with Christ. The necessary unity of the body of Christ is analogous to the union of the members of the human body. In describing that analogy, the Apostle Paul declares in 1Corinthians 12:12 -14. 12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

 

When we were baptized into Christ, we received the Holy Spirit, which produces our Christian character. This character is not produced by the moral discipline of trying to live by the law. When the life giving Spirit of God is in charge, human lives yield a rich harvest of qualities as found in Galatians 5:22-25 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

 

If we are to let Christ influence our lives, as Paul urges us in Philippians 2:2 in order to gain salvation, then we should be: like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

 

Being like-minded doesn’t mean that we must be the same, but we must think the same – WITHOUT giving up our individuality. We don’t have to become clones of each other – but rather have the same beliefs. It’s all right to have differences of opinions on non-essential matters like kitchens in the “church” building, worship styles, clapping of hands during singing or even the use of instrumental music. In Luke 10:25-28 we read, 25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself."  28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

 

Who are our neighbors? They could be anyone – whether they are members of the Church of Christ or not. We all have a common heritage, the blood of Christ that has been shed for the forgiveness of our sins, True Christians serve the true and living God and we know Jesus in a personal and intimate way. For we are told in 1 Corinthians 1:9 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

 

The gray areas that we tend to shy away from, will not lead us away from salvation, but rather failing to follow the instructions that Christ gave us will.

 

Luke gives an example of the pattern of worship the first Christians followed in Acts 2:42: "42They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Paul expands the example by adding singing, Ephesians 5:19. "19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord," The definition of Psalms in Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries is: Praises and in parenthesis “play a stringed instrument”. David wrote 70 of the 150 Chapters found in the Old Testament and several were written to a stringed instrument. But there is no written example for the use of instrumental music or clapping during singing found in the New Testament Bible, but does this make it wrong? If it is from the heart, is it okay? These are questions each of us must answer without judging those whose opinions differ from ours. Aren’t we told in Romans 14:4-10 not to judge others? (4Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

 5One person regards one day above another; another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

 10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.)

 

Ask yourself what is most important in life. Is it your relationship with God? If it is, and it should be, shouldn’t you also be seeking the same thing that God wants? Shouldn’t you also be seeking to love one another as Christ commanded us? Love is the perfect bond of unity as found in Colossians 3:14 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

We keep hearing about the command to love, what is this “love” that is being mentioned? In Ephesians 5:1-2 we are told, 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2aand live a life of love, just as Christ loved us

 

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus prays for the unity of all Believers, some believe that this included all future believers. (John 17:20-21 “20My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”) Jesus didn’t pray for this denomination or that one, BUT for ALL believers.

 

Therefore, it is the duty of the individual church members as well as the congregations to strive for unity in the body of Christ, based upon Biblical principles.

 

Romans 15:5-6 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Ephesians 4:3-6 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

Ephesians 4: 11-13 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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 have got to learn that the Church described in the Bible is not about an organization or institution, it is about a person having a relationship with Jesus Our Lord, and a relationship with others who likewise look to as Jesus Their Lord.

 

Satan enjoys the disunity between Christians, for it gives him a toehold to work his evil and a chance to lead people away from Christ.

 

Faith is: The theological virtue defined as a secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God’s will.

 

Finally I would like to close with John 17:11 where Jesus states: 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.