When non-believers meet for the first time, they often chat until they find something in common (hobbies, family, holidays etc.) - and then have a friendly discussion about that.
When believers meet for the first time, they sometimes chat until they find something to disagree over - then argue about it!
We can always find a reason NOT to have unity:
Because of this …
Because of that …
As John Newton (the evangelical Pastor and also the Author of ‘Amazing Grace’) wrote, after seeing the damage caused by fighting over secondary doctrines:
'An itch for disputing is the infection of the church.'
How sad!
Psalm 133:1-3
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
--> God’s PLEASED when we live in unity.
--> So He COMMANDS A BLESSING - which is what we want!
Further reading
2 Chronicles 30:1, 13 & 25-27
In contrast - when the church is divided, it sends out an awful picture of Christianity to unbelievers.
Example:
The famous 18th century evangelist George Whitfield published pamphlets - attacking other ministers & their doctrines.
He later realized that he’d made a mistake - because these pamphlets hindered the spreading of the gospel.
God told Moses to make the anointing-oil by mixing together many different ingredients. (Exodus 30:31-35)
This is a picture of how unity amongst believers leads to the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one (Hebrew word ‘Echad’ = ‘United’), to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD;
and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good;
for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the House was filled with a cloud, even the House of the LORD;
14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the House of God.
--> When Christians from different churches / denominations join together to praise God: it leads to a strong presence of God.
Example
We were camping on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis (with rain & gale force winds at the time!) and went to a combined praise meeting of different congregations.
There was a strong anointing and we felt a great blessing - which more than compensated for the awful camping conditions!
Acts 2:1-3
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Q - What characterised the early church when they had that amazing experience with the Holy Spirit?
A - They were in ‘one accord’ = Unity
Just the same as we read earlier in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14.
Further reading
Acts 1:14, 2:46, 4:24, 5:12
2 Corinthians 12:18
For many years I was involved with mid-week Christian Fellowships in the workplace:
A. There were believers from a wide range of churches:
Baptist, Brethren, Catholic, Episcopal, Ethnic (African & Chinese), Evangelical, Independent, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist etc.
B. So there were many issues we could have argued about!
C. But when we:
Concentrated on Jesus.
Prayed and worshipped.
Studied the Bible.
… we would often experience a very strong presence of God - probably stronger than in our individual churches at weekends.
Q: Why did God send His strong presence?
A: Because He was pleased that we were united - so He blessed us. (Psalm 133:1-3 above)
John 17:11 b ~ … Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.
--> There’s unity in the Godhead (between the Father, Son & Holy Spirit):
When trainees start a new job in the workplace - they're shown: ‘This is how we do things here’.
In the same way, God’s telling us: ‘This is how we do things in heaven’ - well before He takes us up to live with Him.
You and I are on God’s TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ETERNITY - and that includes living in unity with other believers!
Further reading
Malachi 2:10
John 17:21-23
Romans 12:18
Ephesians 4:3-6
Proverbs 6:16 & 19
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
…
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
--> God HATES people who cause division!
Further reading
2 Corinthians 12:20
Because:
He understands the power that’s in unity.
He wants to stop what God’s called us to do.
So:
#1 - God brings people together to do a particular Christian work.
#2 - Then the devil tries to divide us:
Q - How?
A - He uses: personalities, misunderstandings, temptations etc.
Mark 3:24-25
24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Further reading
Matthew 12:25 / Luke 11:17
It’s OK to disagree with other believers.
But don't let disagreements divide us - we’re on the same side!
Illustration
One of the main reasons that the Allied Powers won the Second World War, was that they worked together as a team - despite having major differences.
In contrast, many Nazi departments competed with each other to look best to Hitler - and so they wasted resources.
They concentrated on:
Their petty internal ambitions.
instead of
The ‘big picture’ of winning the war.
Q - What’s the lesson for us, as members of God’s worldwide Church?
A - We need to WORK AS A TEAM, not as competitors!
Romans 14:19 ~ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Further reading
Proverbs 17:19, 18:6
Romans 15:5-7
1 Corinthians 12:25
Galatians 5:14-15
Philippians 2:2-3, 4:2
7.1 Those who promote beliefs which take people to hell, instead of to heaven:
Rejecting the sacrifice of Jesus as the only way to heaven. (See ‘The Cross’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com)
Non-Christian religions or cults.
Rejecting the Bible as the Word of God.
Further reading
Galatians 1:6-9
1 John 2:18-23
2 John 7-11
7.2 Believers committing gross, unrepentant sin - because it’s an abuse of God’s grace & mercy:
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,
or a railer (= slanderer / foul-tongued), or a drunkard, or an extortioner (= swindler); with such a one no not to eat.
12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?
13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
--> Paul explained that:
We can’t avoid mixing with people who commit gross, unrepentant sin outside of the church - God will judge them.
But we can and should avoid or expel people who commit gross, unrepentant sin WITHIN the church.
Further reading
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Jude 3-4
#1 Q - What’s the best way to avoid an argument?
A - Don’t start one in the first place.
Proverbs 17:14 ~ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
--> We should: ‘Walk away / not go there’.
Good advice:
Don’t make a first-rate argument out of a tenth-rate issue.
Major on the majors. Minor on the minors.
Further reading
2 Chronicles 35:20-24
Proverbs 10:12, 16:28, 17:9, 26:17 & 20-21
Romans 14:10
2 Timothy 2:23
Titus 3:9
#2 If an argument starts - we should try to STOP it.
Proverbs 20:3 ~ It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
--> God LIKES it when we stop an argument.
As the English Puritan preacher Richard Baxter wrote in 1656:
‘It will be a happy day when church leaders are as zealous to heal our divisions as they now are to create them.’
Further reading
Ecclesiastes 10:4
#3 If we disagree with someone - we should talk directly to them, not to others about it / nor in public.
Proverbs 25:9 ~ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover (= disclose) not a secret to another.
Instead of openly criticising someone - it’s much better to sit down with them in a friendly atmosphere, and find out how each of us came to our particular point of view.
Further reading
Joshua 22:9-33
#4 HOW we say something, and the words we choose, has a huge effect.
Proverbs 15:1 ~ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Think of the:
Gentlest person you know.
Most aggressive person you know.
They can say the same thing - but how they say it affects us very differently.
Further reading
Proverbs 16:24, 22:11, 30:33
#5 We should AVOID people who cause division.
Like we avoid other harmful things: careless drivers, dangerous animals, smoke etc.
Romans 16:17 ~ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Further reading
Proverbs 22:10, 26:20-22, 28:25
#6 We should PROMOTE GOD - NOT our particular church / ministry.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
10Now 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.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas (= Peter); and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Q - Why were there divisions at Corinth?
A - Because they focused on Christian leaders, instead of focussing on Jesus.
The overall Kingdom of God is much more important than our particular: church / fellowship / denomination.
--> So we should act like we're in the same army - just in different regiments.
--> Not act like we're in competing businesses!
Further reading
3 John 9-10
#7 Understand that division is a SIGN OF CARNALITY - like a playground squabble.
1 Corinthians 3:3-4
3For ye are yet carnal (= unspiritual / worldly): for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
--> We should be too busy extending the Kingdom of God, to argue over petty matters!
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
--> Paul said that the church is one body - but made up of different parts.
--> Look at the parts of your body - they’re all joined together.
Q - What would happen if they weren’t joined together?
A - Our body wouldn’t work properly!
In the same way - the church only works PROPERLY when JOINED TOGETHER in unity.
Further reading
1 Chronicles 12:38
Ezekiel 37:15-17
Acts 4:32
Ephesians 2:19-22
1 Thessalonians 5:13
Luke 9:49-50
49And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Further reading
Mark 9:40
Galatians 3:28 ~ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond (= slave) nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Our: church / nationality / skin colour etc. won’t matter in eternity.
The disciples had completely different backgrounds:
Matthew collected taxes for the Romans.
Simon the Zealot (or Canaanite) may even have fought the Romans!
--> Unity doesn’t mean uniformity.
--> Unity only means something where there’s diversity of people.
Illustration
If we’re on a sinking ship - our top priority is to get into a lifeboat:
We’re not bothered about who else is in the lifeboat with us.
Only that we’re safe.
We need to have the same attitude in the local & worldwide church:
It doesn’t matter who we’re working with.
Only that we’re saved, and that we work together to save others.
Amen