Union or Unity?

Is unity of the believers important? Is it even possible? To think it is not possible is to discount the prayer of Jesus, for Jesus prayed for unity.

John 17:20-21

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them al

so which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

These are words Jesus prayed before the awful ordeal of the cross. Unity may not mean much to many folks today, but it certainly was on the mind of Jesus even hours prior to his death. Division exists today throughout the religious society. What causes this division? What is keeping Christ’s prayer from being answered? In this essay, we want to look at three basic things regarding the unity of God the Father, the Son, and His church: unity of purpose, unity of method, and unity of resolution. When an individual or a congregation is in opposition to any one of these three principles, division occurs.

I am not sure we understand unity. Some have the idea “perfect agreement” is unity. In other words, never can there be a difference of opinion. Most of these folks believe, of course, that their opinion is always right. Sometimes, they are willing to enforce their opinion, no matter the consequences. After all, they are convinced they are right. They are as Diotrephes in III John  9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. These folks have an opinion and are not willing for anyone else to have a viewpoint that differs.  How difficult for someone to get along with us if we have the attitude of Diotrephes.

Others are convinced that, in order to have unity, they must never confront error. They are of the mind it is better to get along with folks than to create dissension. These usually never stand for much. They are as the scripture says in Ephesians 4:14, tossed to and fro on every wind of doctrine. These folks have confused union as unity. Two tomcats with their tails tied together are a union, but certainly not unity. If our proverbial tomcats remained tied together, one of them must become submissive in order to live. There is still union but not unity. Many churches operate this way. The majority becomes “submissive” to the minority in order to maintain some semblance of peace.

Jesus is not praying for either of these results we have mentioned. Look at the passage again in John 17:20-21:

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus prayed for unity of his children—unity after the same manner he and the Father are united. Jesus is not praying that we never have a difference of opinion.

Romans 14:2-4

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Now, we can never be in total agreement on every issue.  We all have opinions. In striving for unity, we must attempt to discern opinion from mandate. Opinions stated as law have caused division more than any other thing. Notice Paul’s instructions in our relationships with opinions. Romans 14:2, 3 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Did you notice in this passage neither is condemned for their beliefs? It is not sin to refrain from meats, nor is it sin to eat them. The error the Apostle tries to avoid is our thinking less of our brother for the thing he allows or disallows. We must be able to tell the difference between opinion and commandment.

The prayer of Jesus is answered in our lives when we are united in fellowship, as God the Father and God the Son were united.

Unity of Purpose

That the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His purpose is salvation. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Our agenda must be the same. Our agenda must be for the salvation of people if we are to have the unity for which Christ prayed. Today, as in the past, there are those with their own personal plan. Some strive for the acclaim of men. Others work for the receipt of money. Still others enjoy power. Listen to the words of Paul to the Corinthian church.

I Cor. 1:10-13

10 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. 11 For 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. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Of all the problems of the Corinthian church, God chose to address division first. Why? When we have our own agenda, we may cause many people, perhaps generations of people, to be lost. Christ prayed for us to have the same purpose. If one arises who has the ability to persuade, examine his purpose. His fruits will reveal his agenda. Is he more concerned with the souls of men or of building a power structure? Does he place salvation of men above all else? Remember, Jesus did. Question and examine every teacher’s message. Is it a message to unite in the purpose of salvation, or a message to create another sect? Christ prays for his children to be united in purpose. The Jews rejected Christ because they did not understand or agree with his purpose. Rather than establish an earthly kingdom, Jesus came to save men from their sins. His agenda was different than that of the Jew. In Romans 14:13, Paul said it was a stumbling block. The unity Jesus desired for the Jewish people was never realized because they rejected His purpose. We may be guilty of the same thing. Never let us place personal goals before the purpose of Christ. If you are not in unity with Christ on His purpose, you will inevitably cause division among His people.

Unity of Method

Matthew 16: 21-23

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Peter attempted to ignore the method Jesus and the Father had planned for salvation of the world. When Peter suggested avoiding the cross, Jesus said he was speaking the words of Satan. Never could Jesus be unified with Peter as long as it was contrary to the method of salvation God had planned before the foundation of the world. Clearly, there is a plan of salvation. Those who attempt to “preach another gospel” can never be in unity with Christ and his people. Consider those who attempt to place conditions of salvation where Christ did not. One such example is the Jews mentioned in Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Peter’s reply in Acts 15:10,11 was rather strong. He said:

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

As an example to us, God reveals the Jews’ attitude toward the Gentiles. An attempt to force circumcision upon the Jews was considered a “yoke” or a burden. Peter, in order to have the type of unity for which Christ prayed, withstood the Jews. Peter knew that unity of purpose and unity of method were of the utmost importance. Today, the religious world rejects Christ’s plan of salvation. Baptism is smirked upon and despised. The method God has established (see Gal. 3: 27) for responding to the cross of Christ is denied. As a result, division among religious bodies exists. Just as Peter withstood the Jews who would reject God’s method for salvation, we must never be unified with those today who would reject God’s method. We must never attempt to place terms, or methods, of salvation upon people that does not exist in God’s plan. Examples of that being done today are those who would require a certain criteria for fellowship not found in God’s word—such as keeping of days, abstaining from certain foods, or forbidding to marry when Jesus permits.

Some among us would place a yoke of burden around our necks.

I Timothy 4:1-3

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Unity that Jesus prayed for can never be attained by those who would place a yoke of burden upon the church. Paul speaks of forbidding to marry and abstaining from meats. He said, some depart from the faith. Why? Abstaining from meats and marriage are personal decisions. They should never be considered a method for salvation or terms of fellowship. Jesus is not praying for unity among those who would be guilty of such. Jesus could not be unified with Peter as long as the method of salvation waived from the cross.  Striving for unity, then, would necessitate asking, ”This which I question—does it differ from the purpose of Christ and his method of salvation?”  If you are not in agreement with Christ on method, you will inevitably cause division among His people.

Unity of Resolution

We sing the old song, “I am resolved.” This song simply states an attitude of one who will obey Christ. An attitude that says, “my mind is made up. Nothing will turn me aside from that which I must do.” Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. Jesus’ resolve in going to the cross was of paramount importance to us. Without his dedication to doing the will of the Father, you and I would be hopeless. In Him, we see the importance of living a faithful life and continuing stedfastly in the work of the Lord. I Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Today, we lack unity due to those who are short on resolve. Jesus tells of two brothers commanded to work in the vineyard.

Matthew 21:28-31

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first.

Consider the division caused by those who go to work in the vineyard but lack the resolve to stay at their post. The young man that baptized me nearly forty years ago left the church a few years after my conversion. This young man had a great amount of influence. He could not quit the work in the kingdom peacefully. Nor can you. Our lives are intertwined. With this young man quitting, many people’s lives were adversely affected. Some quit with him. Some became indifferent and others grew angry. I know of no one who was affected in a positive manner. Our lack of resolve may not be as pronounced as a man like this. We may still show up every Sunday. But someone notes our commitment level, I assure you. A lack of resolve will cause division. I Cor. 5:6 Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Jesus was so resolved in His purpose of salvation for mankind; He was willing to undergo the severest of treatment. Nothing would keep Him from doing the will of the Father.

John 17:20-21

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

If we are to be one, as Christ and the Father are one, we must have the same resolve. The resolve of Christ’s church needs to be seen now more than ever. Note the words of Paul in I Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

I am reminded of the days when my daddy would farm with a team of horses. When the horses worked together, the task at hand was possible. What a terrible day if one of the horses would be stubborn and have a mind of its own, rather than the mind of the one holding the reins and planning the work. Nothing would ever be accomplished by a stubborn team. The same is true of God’s people. If we are of our own purpose, or choose our own method, or lack resolve for doing Christ’s work—we are no different than a stubborn mule refusing to be driven by the farmer. Those who refuse to work under the guidance of God’s word will be in a constant state of upheaval and will create the same upheaval among those around them. Our work at hand is infinitely more valuable than any sort of earthly work. The souls of men are at stake. Perhaps your loved one’s soul hangs in the balance as you read this. Our unity with Christ—striving with the same purpose, the same method, and the same resolution—will work for the saving of men’s souls. We must do away with our selfish pride and self-centered intents. We must labor under the yoke of the Master and strive in unison. Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. When we are in unity with Christ, the labor of saving men’s souls is possible. He has carried the weight of the burden—all the way to Calvary.

I ask you to take an honest look at yourself as I look at myself. Let us ask these questions:

·      What is my purpose?

·      Is my purpose one of selfish gain?

·      Is my purpose the same as Christ’s?

·      Is the saving of souls my passion?

·      What method for achieving my purpose do I employ?

·      Is the method founded upon God’s word?

·      Do I accept my method based upon instruction from God’s word or tradition?

·      Am I remaining true to my purpose?

·      Do I waiver and become lukewarm?

·      Do I stay at my task or just make a pretense?

Unity, the prayer of Christ, may be achieved—but may be done only by those who will be of the same mind of Christ. In no way did he condone or promote unity with those who would reject His purpose, method, or resolve. May God help us to be in fellowship with Him.

Mark Parkhurst