People downplay unity. Rather than a church of Jesus Christ, we have 100s of denominations throughout the world. We have disputes over 100s of doctrinal beliefs. People emphasize doctrine more than they emphasize having a relationship with a loving, Heavenly Father. People emphasize doctrine more than they emphasize good works in Christ Jesus. As a result, we see a church in which we have denominations, doctrinal distinctives, divisions, discouragement, disagreement, and disunity.
How does all of that jive with these scriptures?
Romans 14:19 – Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.
Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Hebrews 12:14 – Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy.
2 Peter 3:14 – Make every effort to be found spotless and at peace with Him.
Ephesians 2:14-22 – For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility . . . you are . . . fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.
John 17:20-26 – My prayer is . . . for those who will believe in me . . . that 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. . . May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
I could list dozens more.
People say they are serious about the Great Commission and evangelism. I’m not sure anyone who spends more time arguing and dividing people in the church really is serious about evangelism. Jesus’ prayer for us was “complete unity” and the end He says results from that complete unity is nothing less than letting the world know that the Father sent Him and have loved them even as the Father loved Jesus. One of the best ways we could ignite the revelation of the Truth about Jesus is by the church unifying in obedience to the Father, His ways, His Word, His truth, His Spirit. Doubt, unbelief and disobedience drive the spirit of disunity in the church today. Do we believe that God, through His Spirit, can truly bond us together in peace or not? If so, then let’s join in doing what the scriptures command: to make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. To put others’ interests above our own. To live in peace and harmony with one another. To lay down our “rights.” To accept one another in love.
May God raise up servants who will lay down their lives to reconcile the church one to another in obedience to the Father.
Posted by: Bryan Riley
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