Church Unity: A Bible Call

Believers often get caught up in matters that lead to disunity, more than they give careful thought and effort towards bolstering church unity. Being given over to disunity is synonymous with arguing, envy, idolatry, complaining, and selfishness.

When Paul urges the Corinthian church towards unity, he points out their quarells, and idolatrous infatuation with their favorite teachers (1 Cor 1:10-17). He accuses them of fleshliness, pointing out their jealousy and strife (1 Cor 3:3). 

James likewise warns that “where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16).

After encouraging the Philippian church to be “of the same mind” (Philippians 2:2), Paul goes on to say that we are to be lights in the world “without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14).

In fact, our grumbling and arguing hampers our witness of Jesus Christ. Sadly, we all too often act in a way that fails to reflect the great love of Jesus to a dying world, who should know that we are Christians by our love for one another.

There’s a Lot to Argue About

Let’s face it- there’s a lot to argue about in the church.

• “Do we believe in a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture?”
• “Should we use grape juice or wine at communion?”
• “Are tongues for today or not for today?”
• “Is a certain scripture literal or symbolic?”
• “Are drums too showy for worship? Or should we just stick to the organ?”
• “How should the church engage in culture and politics?”

With all the things there are to argue about, we could likely never run out of reasons to argue! If that sounds fun to you, you may be a part of the problem.

Beware, there are people with an “unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels” (1 Timothy 6:4). People like this don’t love sound doctrine, rather they love to fight, dividing and conquering for their own pleasure.

The Lord’s people should never be this way. Our love for truth must always be married with our love for people, and shared with manifestation of the fruits of the spirit.

Hope For a Unified Church

As humble servants of Christ, how can we experience unity not only with other churches, but within our own congregations?

Lately I have found myself giving up hope for experiencing a unified church. I wonder if we have adopted the dissentious nature of our day; angry, isolated, estranged from one another, huddling in echo chambers that caress our flesh. However, to give up on the church, is to give up on God. It’s to fail in faith that Jesus Christ will have the bride he died for- spotless, pure, and made ready.

Strive For Peace

Thanks be to God that scripture has not only sufficient, but exhaustive answers that can lead our congregations to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). This work is impossible with man, acting in the desires of our flesh. But with the Spirit of God, we are empowered to strengthen this bond of peace. 

It’s true that we will not achieve perfection as a church until Jesus returns, but we are supposed to be pressing towards it, “to grow up in every way into him who is the head” (Ephesians 4:14). Our unity should be such that we “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:10), as we nurture the church as we would our own bodies.

Church Unity: A Dire Matter

I fear that if we fail to strive for unity, we may in fact, fail our mission altogether. And what a tragedy it would be to find our work on the day of Jesus Christ burned up (1 Corinthians 3:15).

You may be thinking, that sounds unnecessarily harsh or exaggerated. However, in the context of divisions in the church, 1 Corinthians 3:17 says: 

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

A Series On Church Unity

I intend, Lord willing, to make this a series on church unity. In the next post we’ll explore who the church is, why it exists and how this impacts our call to unity. Sign up for blog updates, and stay tuned!