". . . I
would rather be the man that walked out and injected the sword into the body
of Christ on the cross than to be responsible for having injected into the
spiritual body of Christ that which has torn it asunder." These words were
spoken by N.B. Hardeman in 1922. He was referring to the division resulting
from the introduction of mechanical music in the worship (Hardeman's
Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 1, p. 269).
Obviously,
some disciples do not think that it is such a serious thing to invent
injections that tear the spiritual body asunder. Since Hardeman spoke those
words in 1922, many new practices have been injected. The tearing asunder
has continued.
Unity Is
Desirable
Before the
establishment of the church, Jesus announced, ". . . And there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). The Master does not desire that
some sheep find shelter in one sectarian setup, others in another
denominational detachment, and additional ones in a different partisan pen,
while the remainder roam the wild hills of hidden heresy.
Just a few
hours before going to the cross, Jesus prayed while with the apostles,
"Neither pray I for these alone," said the Lord, "but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one is us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20, 21).
To the
Corinthians, Paul wrote, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10). It is possible for
Christians to be of one mind, speaking the same thing.
The saints at
Ephesus were urged to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, "endeavoring
to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:1-3).
The unity of the Spirit cannot be maintained without earnest endeavor.
Contrasting
Examples
The church at
Jerusalem exemplified remarkable oneness. The disciples in that city were
"together," "had all things common," and continued daily "with one accord"
(Acts 2:44-46). They were "of one heart and of one soul" (Acts
4:32). When a murmuring arose because certain widows were neglected in
the daily ministration, the problem was solved quickly under apostolic
supervision. The recommendation of the apostles "pleased the whole
multitude" because the authority of the apostles was respected. Today, many
congregations are plagued with discord and dissension due to lack of respect
for apostolic authority.
In contrast
to the church at Jerusalem, God's people at Corinth were torn with strife.
They had a factional spirit. They were saying, "I am of Paul; and I of
Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ" (1 Cor. 1:12). Paul
charged that their envying, strife, and divisions furnished evidence of
carnality. This brand of carnality often overshadows true spirituality among
Christians.
The
Corinthian brethren were going to law with each other before unbelievers
(1 Cor. 6:6). They had differences over whether or not it is right to
eat meat offered in sacrifice to idols (1 Cor. 8). They were abusing
the Lord's supper, making it a feast for satisfying bodily hunger (1 Cor.
11:18-34). They needed to learn that there should be "no schism in the
body"; all members should have "the same care one for another" (1 Cor.
12:25).
Requirements for Unity
How can we
attain the kind of oneness for which Jesus prayed? On what basis can we be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment? The
following are some of the essentials for the unity revealed by the Spirit:
1. We must
stand on God's platform. Paul outlined the seven planks in this platform
in Eph. 4:4-6. (1) There is one body. That body is the church
(Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18). It is not a denomination or a mystical union
of man-made religions. (2) There is one Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives life
and direction through God's word. (3) There is one hope. The desire and
expectation produced by the gospel is eternal life (Tit. 1:2). (4)
There is one Lord. Jesus is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). He is
the head of the church. There is no human head. (5) There is one faith. That
is the faith for which Christians are to earnestly contend (Jude 3). It is
the revealed faith. (6) There is one baptism. That baptism is in water
(Acts 8:36-38; 10:47), is a burial (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12), is in
the name of the Lord (Acts 19:5; 10:48), and is for the remission of
sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). (7) There is one God. He is described in
contrast to idols in Acts 17:24-29.
2. We must
walk by the same rule. The word of God must be the standard for our
faith and practice. Amos asked, "Can two walk together, except they be
agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Amos was in agreement with God and walking with
God. The people of Jeroboam's kingdom were out of step with God. The New
Testament is the revelation of God's will for us today. Do people really
want unity in Christ? "Let them all agree to walk by the same rule, the New
Testament. Could they for this be blamed by the candid of any party? Does
not every party confess that its own rules are fallible, and that the Bible
is the only infallible rule? Do they not act wisely then, who give up the
fallible for the infallible?" (B.W. Stone, Christian Messenger, Nov. 25,
1826, p. 16).
3. We must
reject all that the Bible does not authorize. Moses E. Lard, writing in
the first issue of his Quarterly (Sept., 1863), attempted to summarize the
plea of such men as Campbell, Stone, and others. ". . . The reformation
consists in an effort to induce all the truly pious in Christ to become
perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, by
accepting as doctrine, precisely and only what is either actually asserted
or necessarily implied in the Bible; to speak the same things by speaking
what the Bible speaks, and to speak them in the language of the Bible; and
to practice the same things by doing simply the will of Christ.
4. We must
differentiate between faith and opinion. Faith comes by hearing the word
of God (Rom. 10:17). Nothing should be urged as a matter of faith
unless it is backed by divine testimony. Alexander Campbell once noted: "A
person's faith is always bounded by testimony; his knowledge by observation
and experience, and his opinions where both these terminate, and may be
boundless as God's creation or as human invention" (Christian Baptist, Feb.
6, 1826).
Many times
brethren form a personal judgment about something, and that opinion is
preached as if law and gospel. We ought to avoid preaching human opinions,
and we must never elevate them to the high level of divine revelation.
5. We must
have the proper attitude. We may preach loudly about the importance of
walking in the old paths, and we may guard against unscriptural practices
with the sharp perception of a good sentinel, and we may stress one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, only to fail to keep the unity of the Spirit. Paul
mentioned lowliness and meekness, longsuffering, and forbearance in love
(Eph. 4:2). Some gospel preachers have never learned to show patience.
There are brethren who seem to have a divisive spirit. At the slightest
disagreement or provocation, they are ready to draw away disciples after
them. Humility is a missing ingredient in a lot of men. The desire to rule,
or to have one's own way, even if it means splitting the church, has
crippled the good cause in many localities.
6. We must
endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit. The unity into which the
Spirit leads is based on truth, not error. A million people can be united in
the practice of error, but that unity does not transform their error into
truth. It is the unity of the Spirit that is to be preserved in the bond of
peace (Eph. 4:3).
Some people
have the idea that if we preach the truth unity will result automatically.
Paul knew that more is involved. He wrote of "endeavoring" to keep the unity
of the Spirit. We must make careful and painstaking effort. This
necessitates crushing unholy and selfish ambitions. It includes keeping down
strife, seditions, and heresies. It involves the application of Phil.
2:3.
Most of us
deplore division in the church. We plead for unity based on the Bible, but
in practice a lot of us insist on unity based on our personal whims.
Although we dare not compromise principles of right for any purpose, we must
be willing to compromise in the realm of human judgment. Many congregations
that have been ripped apart with bitterness and turmoil could have remained
united if certain people had swallowed their pride, shown willingness to
admit wrong, extended forgiveness, learned to keep their mouths shut, tended
to their own affairs, shown brotherly love, exercised patience, and talked
about staying together instead of "starting a new work" (a pretense for
leaving).
Summary
God's word
teaches that unity is desirable, and it reveals how such unity can be
attained. Through the ages many have caused divisions and hindrances by
teaching what is contrary to the doctrine of Christ (Rom. 16:17). As
David Lipscomb well expressed it, "All human teachings, inventions, and
institutions are occasions of discord, stumbling, and division . . . . The
hearts of those who add human inventions are not right in the sight of God"
(Comment on Eph. 4:3).
Each
Christian can make his contribution to the unity of the church by walking
according to God's pattern, teaching others to walk by the divine rule,
rejecting everything contrary to the Scriptures, maintaining the right
attitude, and humbly endeavoring to promote and preserve the unity of the
Spirit.
Questions
1.
What did N.B. Hardeman say about division resulting from
the introduction of mechanical music in worship?
2.
Is Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17:20, 21
compatible with the denominational divisions and divisions among us? How
might some people's attitude toward modern denominationalism be compared to
a religious smorgasboard and how does it affect unity?
3.
How is it possible for Christians to be of one .mind,
speaking the same thing? Give at least one verse to prove this.
4.
Name six things that are essential for the unity revealed
by the Spirit.
5.
What are the seven one's named in Eph. 4:4-6.
Discuss each of them.
6.
What seems to be the missing attitudes in some men whose
doctrinal soundness is unquestioned but who divide churches?
7.
If a million people are united in the practice of error,
will that unity transform their error into truth?
8.
Discuss what Paul meant by "endeavoring" to keep the
unity of the Spirit.
9.
How can each Christian make his contribution to the unity
of the church?
Truth Magazine - January 3, 1980 |