Unity - what does it mean?

[spitnot]

now i have to consider and very carefully... what does unity means to you?

I'm so blessed that God has given me lots of Christian friends. some from my own church and others from different churches. but there are just some things that we can't agree from each other. (though we can agree to disagree)

i just graduated from college... and for the past months (while i was still in school) me and some Christian friends had organized some activities like "Revolution", "One Desire", "Audience of One" --all these are to evangelize and introduce Christ to the youth. you can imagine from Christian contemporary, rock and worship songs being played.

But there were also some other activities that were organized by other groups (some of them are still my friends) that we (me and some who had the same understanding) refused to join because of some particular reasons. one thing is that when it comes to worship. we all know that that there's propriety in worship, in fact Paul wrote it clearly in his letter to the church of Corinth. we just don't agree that some of them speak in tounges (all together and it sounds more chaotic) and yet there's no interpreter (although you can speak in tounges while you're singing and the interpretation is the song itself.) but talking about propriety... it doesn't follow, it only scares
those who are baby Christians and worse those people whom we are trying to witness. also about the "slaying of the Spirit" (which is kinda questionable because it's like putting God in the box)

but then, these friends of ours are questioning us why we don't affiliate with them or join them in their organized activities. and the bad thing i have noticed is that their more of accusing that we're not contributing in uniting the body of Christ. there's that blame.

my reply is that we are all united already and in fact Paul said,
Eph 4:3 "3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
see? we just have to keep the unity, therefore we're already united in Christ. how do we keep it? through the bond of peace.

how do you define unity? just because there are things we don't agree that doesn't mean we are not united.

one more thing, what is ecumenism to you?

i didn't brought this topic to cause division or leaden argument. i just want to read comments.

but here's an important thing, what ever we say or do, we only do so what is written. as Paul said, 1Cor 4:6 "Do not go beyond what is written."

God bless and i hope i can get something from here.

 

[redfox]

Hey spitnot.

I can really relate to your post because I have the same dilemmas and questions in my sphere of life. Im at Oxford university in England, and there are so many different Christian groups helping to share Jesus with the students. There are dozens of churches, many charities, student run groups etc. And many of them have different styles of sharing their faith, preaching Christ, etc. Although I have my own method of worshipping God and sharing my faith, and as a result I more naturally fit into some of these groups than others, I think it is important to focus on Jesus as the head of the church, and not to be divided by our differences:

"God placed all things under his [Jesus] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23 [NIV]

I am often amazed how often God warns the church to be united. A lot of the time both Paul and Jesus talk about unity with the knowledge that things are not always gonna run completely smoothly in the church and that it is gonna be hard work to accomplish unity. But we are told that a united church is a testimony to Christ:

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in 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." John 17:22-23 [NIV]

So when we are united it is a testimony that Jesus was sent by God and loves us. I guess that is because when we see a united church we see the power of love (in Jesus) to overcome any human disaggrement or dissention.

David says:

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1 [NIV]

I think it is so important to be united in love with each other. We are the body of christ. We are his hands and feet. We have been commisioned as a church to

"go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20 [NIV]

But we are given the assurance that

" I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:20 [NIV]

and

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me [Jesus]" Matthew 28:18 [NIV]

So when we go struggle we know that Jesus is with us guiding us and helping us. So instead of focusing on each others differences (which sometimes do need to be addressed eventually) it is more important to focus on Jesus. Because he holds all the answers.

We are told that we should:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. " Phillipians 2:3 [NIV]

and we have to learn to love each other. After all we are all different parts of the same body and if one of us stops cooperating, we're gonna fall sick very soon!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 [NIV]

These verses are such a challenge to me because it is a sometimes SO hard to love people unconditionally like this. But we are assured that Love never fails, and so as we seek to love each other in this way we know that Jesus is being glorified and hte Kingdom of God is growing.

I also think of that bit in Romans 14 where Paul tells the church in Rome (which struggles with unity a lot between the Jews and the Gentiles) to accept each other's customs and methods of going things. I know that I am going slightly of the text there:

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Romans 14:1-4 [NIV]

I would say that this applies to us by accepting things about each other that are different but which do not impede or affect our salvation or fundamental core beliefs in Christ the messiah. So styles of worship might come into this, or methods of preaching, or traditions in the order of service....

It is very important to unhold Biblical truths and the Word of God and throughout the Bible we can see that God shields his Word from corruption and false teaching. But so long as the fundamental truths of Christianity are being upheld then we rejoice in our diversity and pray and support the work that different groups are doing.

Are a body of many parts because like that we can reach many different people. So by unity it does not mean be the same as each other, it means be of one heart and one mind (Acts 2:44) and pray and support each other.

Enough theology:

_____________________


At Oxford we have launched this program called "Hope08" which is a united front of Churches and CU's in Oxford working together to reach the student population. There is an understanding between different parts of the church that we have different methods and different groups of people to access and impact, but htere is also an understanding that we need to be united in our wider mission to see the university claimed for CHrist.

I am part of a Church and a student 'Fusion' group and we have started various initiatives to reach out to our friends and people whom we can influence with our resources. We have a style of doings things and accessing people which others might find unconfortable and inappropriate, just as I might find their methods inappropriate, but it is important to recognise the wider movement of the church (that God is orchestrating also!) and to support each other in prayer and love, and also recognise our differences as being a blessing because in our differences we can impact different people!

Some non christians would be freaked out to hear people speaking out in tongues. Others would be encouraged by witnessing people accessing God by 'speaking in the spirit'. [PS I don't fully understand tongues. I have been given the gift and I am still working out to use it! So bare with me if some of this sounds a bit funky...]

I believe God can use all CHristians for his good... and so my advice to you is to be really loving and supportive of what other groups of christians are doing (and thus being united in vision and focused on Jesus) whilst also talking and praying a lot about the reality that you have differences that need to be used by God to glorify Him in different ways...

Ummmm... I have written FAR TOO MUCH! I am SO sorry it is something that is on my heart because God only ever talks about ONE church and not many.

What you thinking??

Lots of Love, Jack xxx

 

[Br. Bear]

Hi spitnot and Jack,

perhaps ponder on these Scriptures ( after that it is pretty straightforward):

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13 : 34

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13 : 35

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5 : 14

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5 : 15

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5 : 16

Bless you,

Br. Bear

 

[Earthling]

Unity has always been a fun topic for me!

There actually is nothing more I would like to see than the world to forget their differences and get along as one big family. Me personally, I go as far as to call myself an Earthling rather than use the Canadian/Polish/British background I have. That alone makes me feel closer to every race on Earth (Including wildlife!). But perhaps I should think about the aliens of space too? :wink: (If there happens to be some?)

Unity will probably be a tough thing to do, as no two intelligent beings will ever agree on everything, nor share the same exact beliefs. Which will most likely be the common problems we'll have to face.

The only way to unite two or more different types of beliefs is to find some sort of neutral ground that both groups can agree/compromise with.(Ex. Something like how I call myself an Earthling is something every race will agree with)
And yeah, that's pretty difficult.

Clearly, people tend to be stubborn when it comes to what they believe in.

I can't just go around to some religious group and say everything I love about Jesus and expect them to accept it, even if I explained the ways of Jesus perfectly (Or even explain about Jesus to other Christian's with seperate beliefs about him).

But if you manage to find something (honest/truthful of course) which can relate you together and give you a closer bond with each other, perhaps explaining the true ways of Christ would be much easier.

But in the end it all comes down to compromise. This doesn't mean giving up your beliefs to fit in with others. It will never be guaranteed that you will ever get through to someone, they have to be willing to do it themselves. I definetly never got through to someone by arguing with someone, or even just kindly breaking it to them. This just simply means, find something you both can agree with and work from there. And even if they never get it, don't just ignore them, keep the friendship! People will relate your own personal actions to what you believe in, most likely thinking something like "If this person is ignorant their beliefs must be". Perhaps one day they might wake up. As Jesus says, "Love thy enemy".

I hope that helps some, if any? Mostly hope it makes sense in regards to your interest... lol.
I'm kinda tired and sort of feel like I ranted on a bit in this post so I'm sorry if I'm waaaay off. :shade:

I guess if anything seems out of place let me know and I'll correct myself or give a better explaination.

God bless!

 

[stephen]

i just graduated from college... and for the past months (while i was still in school) me and some Christian friends had organized some activities like "Revolution", "One Desire", "Audience of One" --all these are to evangelize and introduce Christ to the youth. you can imagine from Christian contemporary, rock and worship songs being played.

Been there chum...nothing wrong with that

but then, these friends of ours are questioning us why we don't affiliate with them or join them in their organized activities. and the bad thing i have noticed is that their more of accusing that we're not contributing in uniting the body of Christ. there's that blame.

Demonstrations of God's love and God's power in your lives...the only way forward

Christianity is a way life, a faith in Jesus. Try not to cause offence, if you can show the love of God....good. If not accommodate until such time you can

God bless

 

[spitnot]

i absolutely agree, that though we have differences, we're ought to love each other without passing judgment to any brother and without esteeming ourselves higher than anyone. that's why they are still my/our friends/brothers regardless of the differences. what i meant when i mentioned "not affiliating" with them is not that we don't recognize them, but we limit ourselves from joining their practices or "ways"... that as far as the Word is concern, its extra-biblical. We strictly follow nothing but scripture alone. we've actually discussed about this issue and we asked if there's any biblical support, yet they only have their own reasoning and justification. "if the Spirit moves that way, then why would you stop it?" that's a common phrase we always get. but we all know that God doesn't contradict with what is written. again, talking about propriety in worship.


"University" - unity in diversity. we function differently as being unique and different, varied by the gifts apportioned by Christ himself. truly, like one body with different parts. but we all work for one common cause. but with this also comes restrictions, guidelines as how one part should function properly... to protect the body as a whole.

Redfox! thanks bro for the reply, it's longevity is meaningful. Stephen, Earthling and Br. Bear. thanx!

 

[squidget]

hi soitnot yoiu mencioned epesians 4;3 in your original post on endevoring to keep in unity . just the next couple of verces explaines how we say there with one another.
i am going through a period of having people not reject but become indignant because of doctrinal differances they discovered i have .
i still see these friends as brothers and susters in the LORD by simply looking at things like we all believe in one GOD ,and the LORD JESUS .,that should be the basis we look at one another even if we have a differantdenominational belief .
the wonderfull thingg ive found by looking at others this simply is its easy to look at them in a spirit of love .
im not suggesting that you arenot doing this at all just this is the method i use .
we all have the same father in GOD so thats a bond we must ensure never to break .
see just like our earthly familys we have a father and brothers and sisters , but here would be things our " siblings " do that annoy us , but we still love them because their our brothers /sisters ,.
dont worry too much on the " activities " people do as long as they are giving their all for JESUS as it may be a part of their growth in being made perfect in him

blessings squidge