Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
At times, Christian unity can be a perplexing issue, because there are so many different things that are capable of dividing. It's not surprising that some would try to solve the problem of division or to create unity. Attempts to manufacture unity, however, are not what the Bible tells us to do.
Eph 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you 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. 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.
Paul urges us to walk worthy of our calling. Part of this involves working to maintain of a unity that exists by default. That is what the word 'keep' implies. Of course Christians have failed at doing their part, but the failure doesn't warrant these side attempts to create a magic formula to ensure unity.
Unity doesn't come by leaving one group for another. Unity is not a done deal. It takes effort on our part. In the early days of the LC, there are various testimonies of members "coming out of the denominations." It seems unity was equated with a move from one group to another, and in some cases, bad-mouthing past affiliations. In the LC, unity is a presumption. It is believed to exist solely because of what group and ministry members have affiliated themselves with. Thus, there is little to no effort to work to keep the unity of the Spirit.
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Freedom,
I'd like to take your thoughts one step further.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Good questions, huh? Here's another one: how do you keep the unity of the Spirit? If it's THAT important, how do you do it? There's got to be a way.
I can think of a few ways that start with the ten commandments. Love God with your whole being, don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal, honor your parents, love one another more than you love yourseld (whoa! That's a big one!).
There's more, but here's another BIG one. If you find out that your brother is offended with you, don't even pray until you go to him and clear it up. If your brother offends you, go to him...to be reconciled.
If this seems simplistic, why don't Christians practice it? If Christians practiced Matt. 5 and Matt. 18, in addition to the ten commandments, would Christians be divided? Would denominations exist? Would we be in this mess we're in? Maybe. But if Christians don't practice and rely on these basic elements of what it is to be a Christian as our foundation, can we complain about denominations and the lack of unity of the Spirit? No. Not in good faith.
Unity of the Spirit starts here, otherwise we hardly have a leg to stand on. What would happen in the church if Christians first practiced the most fudamental commands in the Bible by confessing our sins and offenses among those with whom we are related? I believe that the unity of the Spirit will be the fruit of this.
What have we got to lose? Ya' gotta' start somewhere. How bad could it be?
Nell
(Thanks O--)