Unity At All Costs? Part One
An Examination Of Biblical Unity And Christ's Will For The Church
United In One Name, Spirit And Baptism
As Christ approached His final days on earth, knowing that He would be leaving behind His disciples, He prayed to the Father:
Jesus had spoken to and prepared His disciples for His crucifixion at the hands of ungodly men and the fate of the disciples following after:
Christ commanded Peter to build up the rest of the disciples in the aftermath of this scattering.
Jesus, ever the loving Shepherd, out of His great love for His disciples had further instructed Peter to 'feed his lambs, tend his sheep and feed his sheep' (John 21:15-17). He had appointed Peter as the leader and shepherd of both of His
flock of his disciples and of those which would be added to the flock as a result of hearing the word of the Gospel the disciples would preach. It was a sobering responsibility and a daunting mission.
It was Peter, the unschooled and cowardly disciple that was chosen by Christ as the shepherd of His flock and who was instrumental in both choosing a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15-23) and who spearheaded the formation of the
Church by preaching the Gospel of Christ's life, death and resurrection full of the power and anointing of the Spirit of God (Acts 2:40-41).
Thus, the Church having been born, grew in number, fellowshipping together by the breaking of bread and sharing of their possessions and wealth.
The Church Was ONE
The Church that came into being at the Day of Pentecost and grew by leaps and bounds thereafter is called to be united and without schism.
United In Love
Love is to be the basis and foundation of the Church's existence and Paul exhorted:
Peace among brethren and love for one another by which Christ taught that the world would know we are the disciples of Christ, this is our aim and goal for which we strive.
Euodia and Syntyche were two women in the Philippian church who, alongside Paul, had worked tirelessly to spread the gospel. Paul was therefore well acquainted with them. Their falling out seemed to have been a personal one and that which had
caused a rift in the church. Paul urged them to make peace and resolve their differences amicably in keeping with the spirit of unity, peace and love that ought to embody believers. this particular dispute was not doctrinal or based on theological
differences and could be resolved with a little help from fellow believers.
Now Paul himself had been embroiled earlier in a falling out with Barnabas:
This had lead to a rift that had altered the course of their missionary journey. Paul simply could not agree to Barnabas' demand and his wisdom dictated his decision in this matter.
In the case of Euodia and Syntyche however, Paul urged compromise, tolerance, forgiveness and unity.
Believers are commanded and urged to strive and work diligently toward establishing and maintaining peace, harmony and love among each other. This is Christ's express will for His Body.
The Corinthian church was being reprimanded by Paul for creating sects and cliques among themselves based on which apostle/leader they revered/favoured instead of revering Christ who used these ministers to preach and establish the
gospel. Paul had to rebuke them for their immature and carnal ways, reminding them that it was Christ who gave the increase from their labour in ministry and not a mere human.
It is virtually impossible for cliques to not exist in the Church today. But when strife is generated due to differing opinions and conflicts over insignificant matters, it goes against the commands of Christ and the
dictates of Scripture. In fact, Paul expressed his utter disgust and angst at believers going to court against each other:
Even for 'legitimate' reasons, Paul forbade retribution between brethren. They were to strive for peace and unity at all costs, even at the price of being cheated themselves.
Unity In Doctrine
John's intention in writing this warning and command was against the backdrop of certain 'believers' who were of the persuasion that Christ had not been born as a human with a physical body, a heresy in that day called 'docetism'. He
called such individuals deceivers and antichrists. Such people were not to be welcomed or even greeted, but rather avoided and shunned. There was to be no grace extended to these men as this would equate to partaking of their sins.
Likewise, there were Judaizers in the Galatian church who taught that keeping circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses were prerequisites for salvation in addition to believing in the gospel of grace. Paul had strong words
of rebuke and warning for them:
Paul pronounced a curse on any individual who would preach a gospel antagonistic to the true gospel preached by the apostles.
Here yet again, Paul is warning believers against DECEPTION by false doctrine which in turn led to divisions and factions in the Church.
Jesus prophesied and taught that the end of the age would be marked by the rampant growth of false teachers; wolves in sheep's clothing that would perform a plethora of false signs and wonders and cause widespread deception, even up to
deceiving the elect, the believers. It is therefore vital, especially for the shepherds to warn against such individuals and expose them and their false doctrine. Scripture commands us to be vigilant and distance ourselves from them,
not 'love on them' or tolerate their presence in the Church.
Paul, in his final fact to face address to the Ephesian elders of the Church warned:
Jesus likewise warned:
There were individuals in the early Church (as there are in certain sects of the Church today) that adhered to certain tenets of the Law of Moses and caused contentions and strife in their pursuit of such 'knowledge', something'
that Paul condemned vehemently.
To continue reading the second section of this teaching, go here.
John 17:11: 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."
20: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21: 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.
22: And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that THEY MAY BE ONE just as We are one:
23: 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.
Matt. 26:31: Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'" (quoting the prophet Zechariah's prophecy,
Zech. 13:7).
Luke 22:31: And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32: But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, STRENGTHEN YOUR BRETHREN."
Eph. 4:4: 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.
1 Cor. 12:13: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14: For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Eph. 4:1: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2: with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3: endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Phil. 4:2: I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3: And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Acts 15: 36: Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."
37: Now Barnabas was determined to take with hthem John called Mark.
38: But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
39: Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
40: but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41: And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Heb. 12:14: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
15: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Rom. 14:19: Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another
Rom 12:18: If it is possible, as much as depends upon you, live peaceably with all men.
Phil. 2:1: Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2: fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 Pet. 3:8: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.
Col. 1:12: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13: bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14: But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in ONE BODY; and be thankful.
1 Cor. 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2: I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3: for you are still carnal. For where there are ENVY, STRIFE, and DIVISIONS among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4: For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal?
1 Cor. 6:7: Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
8: No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!
1 Tim. 6:3: If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4: he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5: useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such WITHDRAW YOURSELF.
2 John 1:9: Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him,
11: for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Gal. 1:8: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9: As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be ACCURSED.
Rom 16:17: Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the DOCTRINE which you learned, and avoid them.
18: For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by SMOOTH WORDS and FLATTERING SPEECH DECEIVE the hearts of the simple.
2 Tim. 2:17: And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
18: who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
Acts 20:28: Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29: For I know this, that after my departure SAVAGE WOLVES will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30: also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31: Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Titus 3:9: But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings abut the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
10: Reject a DIVISIVE man after the first and second admonition,
11: knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Matt. 24:11: Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
1 Tim. 1:3: As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4: nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5: Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
6: from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
7: desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.