UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
Did you ever hear the story of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, who when riding together one day, they were suddenly overtaken by Indian warriors on horseback, dressed for battle? The Lone Ranger whispered to Tonto, “Hey, what are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean 'we', Whiteman?” Sad, but true, sometimes our closest allies disappear in times of greatest need, and unfortunately, we see this happen within the church as well.
Churches that experience what appears to be tremendous unity during joyful times, are often shocked by the lack of unity that occurs during times of spiritual warfare and struggle. How can this be, you ask? Because sometimes, the spiritual reality of a church’s relationship with Christ and with one another, is very different from the church’s intentional behavior, displayed on Sunday morning.
Churches that experience what appears to be tremendous unity during joyful times, are often shocked by the lack of unity that occurs during times of spiritual warfare and struggle. How can this be, you ask? Because sometimes, the spiritual reality of a church’s relationship with Christ and with one another, is very different from the church’s intentional behavior, displayed on Sunday morning.
Church unity is highly sought after by almost every church you ever walk into these days, but unfortunately, the motivation for seeking this unity varies vastly from church to church. Church unity has become almost a marketing buzz word in modern Christianity, because mega-church practitioners know that it holds one of the keys for massive church growth. However, this is not at all the motivating factor for New Testament unity within the Church.
As a result, many churches appear to be unified, but it is only due to a programmatic approach that stimulates the, “mile wide, foot deep”, shallow unity that the modern churches thrive on, but it does not reflect the spiritual reality that sustains a church through difficult times, especially times of persecution. It has been observed that, “The plight of the Christian church seems almost as sad as that of the world. To all appearances it, too, is a house divided against itself. It resembles a beautiful vase that, fallen from its perch, lies shattered in a thousand pieces. (Kuiper 41)”
As a result, many churches appear to be unified, but it is only due to a programmatic approach that stimulates the, “mile wide, foot deep”, shallow unity that the modern churches thrive on, but it does not reflect the spiritual reality that sustains a church through difficult times, especially times of persecution. It has been observed that, “The plight of the Christian church seems almost as sad as that of the world. To all appearances it, too, is a house divided against itself. It resembles a beautiful vase that, fallen from its perch, lies shattered in a thousand pieces. (Kuiper 41)”
Two questions are critical to when we come to this point of the discussion. The first is, Which aspects of church unity are a divine gift and which are a matter of human responsibility? There can be no argument about the fact that God has bestowed many spiritual blessing upon the church that encourage and even demand unity among His followers. Ephesians 4:1-7 answers this question very succinctly, as Paul beseeches us, “…to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)”
In these first three verses we see the responsibility of the church members to endeavor to keep the unity, but in the last four verses, we see the spiritual realities that God has given us to be able to do so. “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. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Eph 4:4-7)”
In these first three verses we see the responsibility of the church members to endeavor to keep the unity, but in the last four verses, we see the spiritual realities that God has given us to be able to do so. “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. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Eph 4:4-7)”
The second question is, How does the church’s nature as one affect its experience of unity or lack of unity? Truly, there is a vast disparity between the nature of what the Church should be, as opposed to what it is now, but we should not let this discourage our progress. For, “…the spiritual unity of all who believe in Christ is indeed present reality, but its fullest realization and the attainment of its highest degree lie in the future. The spiritual unity of the church is both real and to be realized. (Kuiper 43)” As with our own personal sanctification process, we were sanctified prior to being saved, we are being sanctified now, and we will be sanctified when we arrive in glory; all three are true in the past, now in the present, and will be in the future.
God desires unity from His Church and God is sovereign. Therefore, since, “…human responsibility is a corollary of divine sovereignty. (Kuiper 44)”, the Church should respond with unity, because it is responsible to Him. If only it were that simple, right? Unity is not an easy task to achieve within the Church. You can't just establish a unity ministry and expect a unified body of believers as a result (although that might not be a bad place to start). Unity must grow in the hearts of Christ followers as they, "...knit [their hearts] together in love... (Col 2:2)", and this must be encouraged continually.
Throughout the New Testament Scriptures, we are encouraged and even commanded to cultivate the atmosphere of unity in our churches. The Apostle Paul pleaded with the Corinthian church to, "...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. (1 Cor 1:10)" He would later go on to chastise them as little children for their lack of unity saying, "...I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 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; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Cor 3:1-3)"
Wow! That is God's opinion of our divisiveness within the Church: we are spiritually immature babies, behaving like mere mortals, and not the Spirit-filled, new creations we truly are, who have crucified the flesh with all of its envy, strife and carnality.
God desires unity from His Church and God is sovereign. Therefore, since, “…human responsibility is a corollary of divine sovereignty. (Kuiper 44)”, the Church should respond with unity, because it is responsible to Him. If only it were that simple, right? Unity is not an easy task to achieve within the Church. You can't just establish a unity ministry and expect a unified body of believers as a result (although that might not be a bad place to start). Unity must grow in the hearts of Christ followers as they, "...knit [their hearts] together in love... (Col 2:2)", and this must be encouraged continually.
Throughout the New Testament Scriptures, we are encouraged and even commanded to cultivate the atmosphere of unity in our churches. The Apostle Paul pleaded with the Corinthian church to, "...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. (1 Cor 1:10)" He would later go on to chastise them as little children for their lack of unity saying, "...I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 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; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Cor 3:1-3)"
Wow! That is God's opinion of our divisiveness within the Church: we are spiritually immature babies, behaving like mere mortals, and not the Spirit-filled, new creations we truly are, who have crucified the flesh with all of its envy, strife and carnality.
Works Cited:
NKJV New King James Version. Holy Bible. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN: 2000. Print.
Kuiper, Rienk. The Glorious Body of Christ. Carlisle, PA. Banner of Truth. Print. 1966.
