I hope I can wrap up on the subject of unity this week. It has been a couple of weeks since my last post due to the sickness and death of my wife’s mother, please keep her family in your prayers.
Little did I know when I started on this subject it would cause such a stir. Thank you all for the feed back and comments. I guess the subject of unity is a lot tougher than I thought. Even those who are Bible truth seekers seem to struggle with this as well. I think by some of the responses posted my points were proven, that often we still let the little things divide us. So if I may, please let me share my heart one more time on this subject.
In my growing up in church, I have come to a basic conclusion of what many churches call unity. One, many religious groups, denominations feel that to be in unity, everyone must conform to the same things as all others. They even ask you to sign such statements of faith. Now I am not naive to think we don’t need some unmovable foundation beliefs we agree on (I will deal with this a little later). Second, I have had many spiritual leaders and fathers who made it their mission to change everyone to fit their thinking, as if they are the only one right.
Many groups, churches, and denominations do not allow room for others to think independently, or different than them. They are quick to condemn any one who brings up a different thought, using words such as heresy, or disruptive. There just seems to be the ideal in religion that to be in unity means we all conform to the same mold. Biblically we are only asked to conform to the likeness of Jesus, not to a man made ideal. (Rom.8.29, 12.2, Phil. 3.10, 12, 1 Peter 1.14, 15)
I am sorry to admit, that being raised in church and under such thinking I too acted much the same way. I was hard in my heart towards others who did not fit my mold, or lived up to my standards. Even though I was searching for truth and did not like what I was finding in our churches and leaders, I was being much like those I questioned. I even found myself struggling with who I was and what I believed. When I struggled I found myself playing the game doing whatever was needed to get along. I knew I was called to serve the Lord in ministry. I loved to teach and preach the Word of God, and just wanted a place to fit in. Looking back there are many things I wish I could take back, but I can not live in the past and just thank God for His mercy. I learned to speak the things others expected us to speak even though I myself did not believe them. That is compromise and I do not want to go back to such a place in my life. I feel I have grown in truth and my faith and feel very confident in what I believe, and will not change just to fit in.
Now, I have not reached perfection, nor feel I am the only one that is right. That is why I love to ask questions and like talking about the Word of God. There is always more room for spiritual growth. Look at what Paul tells us (Phil 3:12-16 NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. {13} Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, {14} I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. {15} All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. {16} Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Let me say this, I have not arrived, but thank God I have left. I am not where I used to be, but I am striving to get where I am going.
Let us look at the words unity, and conformity in Webster’s dictionary.
Definition of UNITY
1 a : the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness b (1) : a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation <in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity> (2) : identity element
2 a : a condition of harmony : accord b : continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)
3 a : the quality or state of being made one : unification b : a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect; also : the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character
4 : a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole
5 : any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poetics and requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day
Definition of CONFORMITY
1: correspondence in form, manner, or character : agreement <behaved in conformity with her beliefs>
2: an act or instance of conforming
3: action in accordance with some specified standard or authority <conformity to social custom>
I feel so many times in our human finite minds we do not see the big picture. In 1Cor. 12 , Paul uses the picture of a body and how there are many different members making up a whole body. The picture he uses in not that everyone is the same but different, and that we need to respect and honor each other. Then I can’t help but say we have to include chapter 13 in this subject because Paul was still on subject when he writes in chapter 13. I truly feel nothing in all of Paul’s instructions works without chapter 13. None of the spiritual manifestations, leadership, or working of ministry truly works without God’s love.
Let me use a couple of pictures for you. God’s purpose for the church could be like a big puzzle. When put together it makes up a big picture, but it is made up of many small pieces. Not one piece is like another, each one has its own purpose and place. They all have their own character, shape, and look; by themselves they do not make a complete picture. When fitted together with others that are all different in themselves, it makes a complete picture.
I do not feel any one piece of the puzzle has compromised its self to be joined with another. It stays true to itself and must do so to help make up the picture. Its only conformity is not to another piece, but to the whole. I have found those who often fear compromise, often do nothing and walk alone. Our history is full of such people and most basically died off never passing on the good they did have. It was those who were bold and stepped out in the truth they had, often giving their lives for what they believed. Those are the ones you find reaching out to others, passing along the truth and not worrying about the little things.
I remember a teacher I learned from some years ago ask “Is this mountain worth dying on, or is it one you can let go”. I have been in services where just the word of a song upsets others. We let so many little things divide us. Yes you may feel it is a truth to you, but are you the only one who carries truth. Maybe we have not found what you have found, or maybe we are right. Let’s look at some of Paul’s writing on such matters.
(Eph 4:3-6 NKJV) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The foundation we all need to agree on is right here in this scripture. I want to be on record to say we should be able to talk about the rest with out hatred or division.
(Eph 4:13 NKJV) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Maybe we need to look at Romans 14 and 15 and learn how to get along. We need to stop thinking that we can only fellowship with those that are just like us. The world that needs the gospel message needs to see us stand in unity and love.
(Rom 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, {6} that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I celebrated 34 years of marriage. Now those 34 years have been great and I would do it all over again, yet it has been filled with grief and struggles. We both have done things that needed forgiveness, and lots of love. We are two completely different people; we do things differently, think differently, and even have different spiritual levels and truths. For us to make it this far we have had to work at our unity in living together, raising our children, handling our money. It is the true love we have for each other that helps us let go of our differences and forgive each other. We live in unity and hope to pass this on to our children. To me it is not a compromise but a coming together on one foundation and building a life, and family together. Can God do this with his church?
Let me use another example if I may. I love to golf and there are times I just have to go by myself. I do however often play with man I met that is a Muslim. I do nothing to make it my mission to change him; I let my life do that. One day the subject came up with him knowing I was a preacher; he thought I would hate him because I knew he was a Muslim. I reassured him I did not hate him and we only talk on such matters when he brings it up. I just want the love of God to speak to him, and open opportunity to share. If he never receives what I believe I will still love him. You see on those times I go to the golf course by myself, I rarely play the course by myself. You always meet another golfer or group that will ask you to play with them. They don’t ask how good I play or who I like best in golf. They don’t even ask what kind of clubs I play with, they just ask me to join because we have one thing in common; we all love to golf. It is after some playing we find our style of play is different or one is far better than the other, but I have never been asked to stop playing with them just because we had some differences. I have even learned some valuable tips from others because we respected the playing of each other. I never met another golfer just like me but I have met many who just love the game.
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