October 15, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

For Unity’s Sake

 

Introduction: “Is Christ divided?  (1 Cor. 1:13.)

a.     This morning we discussed a major biblical principle of unity; that is, unity is a part of truth, not just a by-product of it.

b.     The Bible teaches that we should be united in the Gospel. Division dishonors Jesus Christ and his Church.  It is sinful.

c.      This does not mean that we cannot differ about some religious beliefs and practices and still be fellow Christians. Romans 14 teaches that it is possible. If you think about it, as human beings we cannot be expected to agree about everything. We will differ about some things in the faith.

d.     What would we as believers in Jesus Christ be willing to do in order to be united in the faith?  For Christ’s sake, what are willing to do to have unity?  It does little good to loudly denounce division, unless we are willing to promote unity.

e.     The problem of division is very comprehensive. But I want you to think about what the Lord wants from us and why we have failed him so completely in regard to this matter.

 

The spirit of Unity

I want to begin with something that we all can do to promote unity.  It is, in fact, foundational to this whole subject.  Here it is—develop a spirit of unity toward one another.  George Bailey once said, You cannot have the unity of the Spirit without the spirit of unity.  Christians should have an irenic spirit; a disposition that makes for peace and reconciliation.  When Paul wrote about the things whereby we may differ (meats, drink, holy days of Judaism), he then said: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another.”  (Rom. 14:19.)  The Greek word for peace is eirene’ (i-ray-nay) from which we get our English word, irenic.

 

In regard to our attitudes, there are only two possible dispositions.  If we reject the peaceful (irenic) attitude, then we will possess a divisive spirit which is contrary to the will of Christ.  This kind of person will respond saying, I am not willing to concede anything for unity!  That kind of attitude shows that one has accepted the false view that unity is not a vital part of truth.  But unity is a part of truth because unity is taught in the Scriptures.  (1 Cor. 1:10-13.)

 

There is something that we all can do in our shamelessly divided brotherhood and religious world.  We can develop the spirit of Christ and show love toward one another.  We can live in our local churches in peace with one another.  Paul asked sadly, “Is Christ divided?”  (1 Cor. 1:13.)  Then why is his body all cut into thousands of pieces?  Herein we find one of the major reasons for division—we do not possess the Christian spirit.  The Messiah is called the Prince of Peace.  (Isa. 9:6.)  “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God.”  (Matt. 5:9.)

 

OT illustration. (Judges 19:1-30.)  A Levite’s concubine was abused unto death by wicked men of the tribe of Benjamin in Gibeah.  The Levite cut the woman into twelve parts and sent them to each of the tribes of Israel to show them the shame of what they had done.  The Bible says, “There was no such deed done or seen from that day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day.” (19:30.)  We have done something like this to the body of Christ.  We have cut it into far more than twelve parts!  There are more divisions than that just within the churches of Christ.

 

Confess the Sin of Our Divisions

Secondly, after seeking to possess the right attitude toward all believers in Jesus Christ, we can and should confess the sinfulness of our divisions.  Until we see it as sin, we are not likely to do anything constructive to change it.  I have a suggestion.  Since division is such a public matter, when our men lead us in prayers in our assemblies, would you include this in your prayers.  Lead us in confessing to God the sin of division.  If unity is both good and pleasant, then division is evil and unpleasant.  It is bitter and distasteful.  (Psalm 133:1.)

 

The ugly party spirit is clearly seen in American politics.  Instead of blindly supporting a party, we should support what is right and good for all citizens.  Why is being partisan so popular?  What is it that appeals to man that he must have a narrow cause, instead of the universal good?  It is likewise wrong to blindly support your country against all others.  It is just partisanship on a larger scale. America is not the chosen country today, as Israel of old. (Deut. 7:6.)

 

James Lefan wrote, “Most conflicts involve vested interests.  As with munitions makers, ending the war means the loss of profit. I’m afraid that some religious leaders also need conflict.  They enjoy their greatest power in leading the fight to ‘purify the church.’”  (“Conflict in the Local Church,” Gospel Advocate, April 1990, 8.)  We need to confess this sin of desiring power at the expense of unity.

 

Jewish and Gentile Christians

One of the easiest and most likely divisions in history was the formation of a Jewish Christian Church and a Gentile Church in the first century.  They had a window of opportunity to keep it from occurring; after a few years the spread of the church would have lessened its effect.  How did they keep that division from happening?

 

The Jewish Christian leaders under James in Jerusalem first demanded that the Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses as well as be baptized.  The Jews had different dietary laws and holy days that the Gentiles did not have.  The Jews had the Law; the Gentiles did not.  The Gentiles trusted more in human wisdom and practiced idolatry.  How could you bring these two diverse peoples into one body?

If you asked the Jewish Christians, What are you willing to give up in order to unite with the Gentile Christians? Likewise, you can ask the Gentiles the same question.  First, some facts needed to be established.  This is the reason for the conference of apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  No one wanted to give up what they considered to be truth or what pertained to their history and traditions.  In their discussions, guided by the Holy Spirit, the Jews learned that they had to give up their contention that the Law of Moses had to be kept under Christ.  They were wrong about that. (Gal. 2:5.) The Gentiles had to allow the Jews to keep some traditions as long as it did not violate the Gospel.  If the Gentiles wanted to eat hot dogs at their fellowship meals, the Jews had to stomach that despised practice!  We can conclude that each side needed to understand Christianity clearly.  For unity’s sake, grow in your understanding of Christianity.  We are divided, in part, because we do not see clearly the will of God.

 

We Do Not Devise a Unity Plan; God Has

I believe this to be an important point in thinking about what we can do for unity’s sake.  We need not worry about devising some brilliant plan to bring about unity in the brotherhood, or Christendom.  God has already done all of that; we must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (Eph. 4: 3.)  Jesus prayed that we might be one as He and the Father are one.  (John 17:20-21; John 10:30.)  The basis for unity has already been established.  A person might go out and build a church building and start practicing some religious acts, but he cannot make a separate Spiritual Kingdom from God’s Kingdom.  There is only one such Kingdom.  The only other one is Satan’s evil kingdom.

 

What we must do is endeavor to keep the plan that God has established.  There is only one faith, one body, one baptism, one Lord, etc.  God has ordained and established these things; we keep them by faith and teaching.  We receive them.  For unity’s sake, endeavor to keep what God has ordained.

 

Seek a Deeper Spirituality

Dr. Earl West once presented 4 general presuppositions to unity.  All of these can be understood as things we can do for unity’s sake as well.  Here are the four points that he made:

 

1.     The Bible can be understood by all alike.  God can relate to us in an understandable way.  Paul wrote, “When you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”  (Eph. 3:4.)   A lawyer once Jesus a question.  Jesus said to him, You have the Law of Moses.  How do you read it?  The lawyer then answered his own question correctly.  (Luke 10:26.)  It is a judgment against God to say that he gave us his Word, desires unity among us, yet we cannot understand the Scriptures.

2.     Some differences will always exist.  There must be a certain forbearance with one another as we grow in understanding.  Divisions ought to be resisted.  Receive those weak in the faith without disputations.  (Rom. 14:1.)

3.     There is an ideal to be followed.  There is a concept in the mind of God for unity and how it is to be achieved.  There is an ideal in the apostles’ mind; we ought to follow the apostles’ doctrine. We should seek to be like the first century church with the corrections applied by the inspired letters to them.

4.     There must be a deep spirituality to form a strong bond of unity.  We must foremost want to do God’s will.  We should just as strongly seek to restore piety as well as doctrine.  If our interest is primarily on words, arguments, being right, instead of being the right kind of people, then divisions will result.  The Amish people seek to restore the right kind of Christian life; we have sought more to restore just the right Christian practice.  One without the other will fail.  This last point by brother Earl West is especially needed. (Eph. 4:1-3.) Here is something that we can do for unity’s sake.