July 30: Christian Unity

I am so tired of division within the Body of Christ. A couple of weeks ago the Pope reiterated the official Catholic stance that they are the one true Church and non-catholic bodies are defective. Southern Baptists, months ago, declared that missionary candidates who practice “a private prayer language” were defective, unfit for service. Some Pentecostals hold to the idea that if a believer doesn’t speak in tongues they are sub-standard, not yet having experienced all that is necessary for salvation.

No wonder there are people who see the division among Christian denominations and decide those are waters in which they do not want to swim. Our division drives people away, dilutes the message of Jesus, and ends in a cacophony of irrelevancy.

Bottom line: It is Jesus who defines the Church; what it is and who it is; Period.

The Bible teaches us that “…everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Joel 2:32) “…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...(2 Corinthians 5:19) because “God loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son; and whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The one common thing Christians have in common is that salvation (forgiveness, wholeness, completeness) is found in Jesus. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12) “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

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It has been impressed upon Christians from the very inception of the Church that unity is paramount: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism (although Baptists use more water that Methodists); one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:3-6)

The Church was given one purpose. Before the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, “Jesus came to the disciples and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, as you are going, 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)

What are these ‘commands’ that Christians are to teach to new converts? There are many, but in His final hours Jesus told them, ”A new command I give you”, said Jesus, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

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The night Jesus was arrested, hours before his execution; He was in intense and agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground as He prayed, “Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

He spent hours in prayer. At least part of that time John was eavesdropping and he recorded what he heard in his gospel account. He heard Jesus pray for His disciples, but also for future disciples:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20-21)

As Jesus prayed for those present and future disciples, He prayed for their unity. Jesus understood that unity among the believers would be the most convincing evidence that He was who He claimed to be. The ‘world’ would believe that God sent Jesus because the disciples were ONE.

Today many in the world disbelieve because of the disunity, division, arguments and petty disputes between and within various Christian groups. When we will learn the lesson of unity? Then the world will KNOW that God did indeed send Jesus, that

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them…that “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous (innocent) for the unrighteous (guilty), to bring you to God. " (1 Peter 3:18)