What does the Bible Teach about Unity Within the Church?
1 Corinthians 1:10 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
The subject of unity continues to come up and I thought it would be good to dedicate a study to this subject. The Bible has much to say about unity, yet because the modern church movements have clouded the issue, there is a lot of confusion on this subject. Anyone who does not want accountability will claim that we must all stand under the banner of unity. Many times I have heard people quote the phrase from 1 Corinthians 1:10 “you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you” to avoid being questioned on a doctrine; however, if you continue reading, we are also instructed to have the same mind and same judgment. It is the mind of Christ that we must have in order to have unity (1 Corinthians 2:16), our foundation must be on Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11) and we are to be put into remembrance of the ways of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:17).
When the Bible talks about unity, it is always referring to being unified in Christ. If you look at what is being addressed in 1 Corinthians, the Christians were claiming that to be of Paul was better than to be of Apollos and vise-versa. They were divided over meaningless things rather than focusing on Christ. Today false teachers play on people’s lack of scriptural knowledge and claim that unity means to accept anything and everything without question. Anyone who questions a teaching or a practice that is unbiblical is criticized as being divisive.
While unity is important and even essential to be an effective church, it is equally essential to understand what unifies us. The Bible commands us to be unified and the Bible commands us to separate from others. We must properly understand the scriptures in order to know how to distinguish when to divide (or to part company) and when to be knit together. In the New Testament, we are commanded to unify in Christ. Those who were rebuked for being divisive were not Christ-focused but man-focused. If your focus is on Christ and obedience to the word, you will always have unity with those walking in the Spirit. If seeking obedience creates division, then it should be a warning sign that those calling for unity are seeking to get you in the flesh rather than conforming themselves to Christ and walking in the Spirit.
Let’s take a little time to look at the scriptural principles of unity so that we can understand unity and apply ourselves to applying these principles to our lives and our churches.
Judge What is Spoken
Judging has become such an ugly word in today’s modern culture – both inside and outside the church. We are never commanded not to judge, instead we are commanded to judge with a righteous judgment (John 7:24), we will be judged by the same standard we judge (Matthew 7:1-2), and that before we judge someone’s fault, we must first remove our own fault. Jesus said that you must remove the log from our eye before we try to remove a speck from our brother’s eye (Luke 6:42). Jesus did not say that we should not seek to remove the speck, but rather that we first deal with ourselves and then we can see clearly to help another person with their error. We must first fulfill our own obedience before we can address someone’s disobedience (2 Corinthians 10:6).
Another important principle to follow is that you and I don’t judge right and wrong, we only judge whether something aligns with the truth of God’s word. What I think is wrong means nothing. What I believe is true means nothing. We cling to and uphold the word of God and the word becomes the judge. A while back I had someone tell me that a sinful practice they had was not disapproved by God. I opened the scripture and asked them to read a certain passage. Once they read it, they said, “that is just your interpretation”. However, I did not interpret anything; I merely ask them to read the passage. Therefore, it was their own interpretation. God’s word is the judge and in the last day, we will all be judged by the word. Look at John 12:48
48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
We are not to be judgmental, but rather to judge, or evaluate, between two options. Where the Bible gives no direction, we are at liberty to decide for ourselves. We know that our purpose is to glorify God and not do anything that would cause anyone to stumble; however, many things that have been labeled as sin are not sin. On the issues where the Bible provides us direction, we judge by determining if we are in agreement or disagreement with God. It is not our opinion or self-righteousness; it is determining whether a doctrine or action is in agreement to what God has revealed to us through His word. When someone calls you judgmental, take their eyes off of you and put the focus onto the scripture. If you do not have a scriptural foundation, you do not need to be judging another person, for it is not you who should be judging, but the word of God which judges.
It is a vital principle to understand that it is the word alone that judges. The word becomes the foundation by which all things are measured. Even so-called new revelations are to be compared against the word of God according to scriptures. Look at these passages:
1 Corinthians 14:29-32 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1 Corinthians 2:13-16 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
To have unity in the church, there must be sound judgment based on scripture. We do not adhere to man’s wisdom, but the wisdom of God as it has been revealed in scripture. Notice the very important statement in scripture, “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets”. In other words, if someone says that God has given them a spiritual revelation, that revelation is subject to the revelation already given by God through the prophets. This is the Bible. It is the responsibility for those in the Spirit within the church to judge what is being said by what has previously been revealed through those we know are prophets. If there is disunity in what has been proclaimed, this should and must be challenged within the church. Unity MUST be founded upon scripture. Without unity with Christ, unity with each other means nothing. The time will come when the entire world will be unified, but they will be under judgment as they follow the antichrist.
The Bible tells us that the ones who are spiritual judge all things but is not judged. Why? To be spiritual, you must be in obedience to the word of God. Since it is the word of God that judges, if we are in agreement with God, there is no condemnation and no one can declare judgment against those who are walking in the Spirit, submissive to the Spirit. Those who are carnally minded may judge and criticize according to the wisdom of man, but God will not honor any judgment but His own word. Look at Psalm 37:32-34
32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
The wicked (or those walking in the flesh) will try to judge those who are standing upon the word, but God will not accept that condemnation. In fact, God will reward those who stand firm even when they are condemned for keeping God’s ways. Unfortunately, this carnally minded judgment has seeped into the church as the people have lost sight and understanding about the word of God. To have unity with God and the church, you must judge according to the word.
The Bible teaches that we have unity through judgment as long as the judgment comes through the word. We create unity by teaching the doctrines of Christ AND preventing false doctrine from being taught within the church. Look at 2 John 1:8-11
8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Anyone who stands contrary to the doctrines delivered in the scripture should not be allowed to teach at all. If you allow false teaching to go unchallenged, the Bible says that you share in their sins and will be judged by God accordingly. If you abide in the doctrine of Christ, you have both the Father and the Son and therefore have unity with God. You must have unity with God before you can have unity with each other. Any cult can have unity, but when the Bible speaks of unity it always means unity in the Spirit in agreement with the doctrine of the Bible. Remember the basic principle of the church – go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things Jesus commanded. This includes the word spoken directly by Christ (John 14:23-24) and the words spoken by Christ through the apostles (John 15:26-27, 2 Peter 3:1-2, Hebrews 2:3). We are commanded to keep the whole word of God. Without our foundation being on the word, we cannot have unity in the Spirit.
Unity is through Sound, Biblical Doctrine
Let’s take a moment to look at the scriptures that instruct us to be unified by sound, biblical doctrine. Look at Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
This passage lays it out so clearly that it cannot be misunderstood. God has appointed the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ so that we come into unity. It is not merely unity with each other, but unity in the faith and knowledge of Christ. Unity comes when the Christian begins to measure up to the standard of Christ. Where there is no knowledge of Christ, there cannot be unity in Christ. Where there is no spiritual maturity among the believers, there can be no unity in Christ. It is both the responsibility of the church leaders and the individual Christian to come to the full stature of the fullness of Christ (or spiritual maturity as we conform to the image of Christ).
It is the responsibility of the church leadership to bring others to Christ through evangelism and then to bring them into maturity through the knowledge of Christ and the doctrine of scripture. It is not possible to maintain unity in the Spirit without knowledge of doctrine. When doctrine breaks down, unity will also break down. This is explained in Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Who causes divisions? Those who question false doctrine? Those who say, “We should obey the scripture?” No, divisions are caused by those who act contrary to biblical doctrine. They may use flattering speech and crafty ideas, but if they are not standing firm upon scripture, they do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ. While church programs may have value, if you are not fulfilling the great commission of Jesus, you are in disobedience. Sacrifice without obedience is not acceptable to God (1 Samuel 15:22).
If you are in obedience to the word, you will have unity with those who are also walking in obedience. According to scripture, unity comes by being joined to the head of the Body which is Jesus Christ. If you are joined to the head, you will have unity with those who are also joined to Christ. As you draw near to Christ, you will also draw near to others who are drawing near to Christ. Unity comes by growing into the head (Christ) and then being knit together in love with others who are also growing in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). If you are not growing in Christ, you cannot have unity in the Spirit. If you do not know the word, you cannot know doctrine. Without doctrine, you cannot grow into spiritual maturity and you cannot have true unity with each other. Understanding biblical doctrine is essential.
Separate from those in disobedience
Many teach that the Bible supports the idea of unity at all cost; however, the following passages reveal that the scriptures do indeed warn us that there is a time to separate from those who live or teach contrary to the word of God. Look again at Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Many will come in the name of the Lord claiming to have a doctrine or revelation of God; however, according to the word of the Lord, if they are not in agreement with the scripture, they do not serve Christ but instead are serving themselves. It does not matter what name someone speaks in, they are not serving Christ unless they are in agreement with scripture. Anyone who says that doctrine is not important, devalues the Bible or exalts their own words over the scriptures, the Bible warns that we must avoid them. This is divisive but is commanded by God. To part company from someone who is contrary to Christ is necessary. Don’t lose sight of the important principle we read earlier – the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. The warning to withdraw from those who are contrary to scripture is repeated again in these two passages:
2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
Twice again we are warned to withdraw from those who live or teach contrary to scripture. This is true even if they are a brother. Also take note that we are not to consider them to be an enemy, but we are to part company while also continuing to instruct them to follow the truth. Our ultimate goal is to reconcile our fellow Christians to God, not to cast stones. The Bible is much harsher on false teachers than on wayward saints. One thing is certain, if you follow Christ, that alone will cause divisions between you and those who have no desire to follow Christ. Light cannot have fellowship with darkness. There are only three possibilities: you will have to compromise your faith in order to have unity, they will be convicted by your testimony and repent, or you will part fellowship. In today’s culture, the righteous are expected to compromise their faith and you will always be pressured to do so. This is why you are instructed to separate from those walking contrary to the commands of God – it will become an influence over you. Look at these passages from 1 Corinthians 5:
1 Corinthians 5:1-3 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles -- that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
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6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
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12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."
In this passage the Corinthian church is being rebuked for allowing sin to go unchecked in the church. They are warned they will be affected and it is necessary to remove the corruption from their congregation. Like putting yeast (or leaven) in a lump of dough, before long the entire lump takes on the leaven. You will be affected by what surrounds you, even if you try to keep yourself pure. This is why we renew our minds daily while also separating ourselves from the world.
Walk Worthy of the Calling
Look now at Ephesians 4:1-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
How do we keep the unity of the Spirit? By walking worthy of our calling in Christ with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing one another up with love. This is an important passage to understand because it is also often misquoted as well. Many attempt to use the phrase ‘bearing with one another’ to teach tolerance when in fact the opposite is being taught here. The word ‘bearing’ comes from the Greek word ‘anechomai’ which means to hold up, sustain or keep upright. The instruction given to us is that we sustain our brother’s in sisters in Christ. We reach out to them and help them stand upright. If you love, you will seek what is good for another person even if it is not comfortable. If you see your brother or sister stumbling, you should do everything possible to keep them upright or to lift them back up if they fall. This is explained further in Galatians 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Once again, it is important to note that we do not withdraw from those who are overcome by a sin, but only those who refuse to depart from the sin and be restored. We do not stand over them and point down, but we reach down and pull them up. All of us have weaknesses that can easily overtake us; therefore, we consider ourselves knowing that we stand by God’s grace alone. We do not judge, we restore with love and understanding. God’s word judges and God’s word restores. Our judgment is to evaluate what is in agreement with the word and align ourselves with the word. Even so, it is vital to understand that you are not being taught to accept the sin, nor are you being taught to tolerate a sinful practice. You are being commanded to reach out to those around you so that they walk in holiness.
Sin cannot be tolerated in the church. We who are walking in the Spirit are to reach out to draw others into the fellowship of the Spirit. When we struggle, those around us will also be a resource for us. If we hold up each other, the church is unified and standing firm on the truth. Each member is used by God to disciple each other member. We lift our brethren up and our brethren lift us up. Our goal is to walk worthy of Christ while loving others enough to seek to help them walk worthy of Christ as well. Look at Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Once again we are instructed on unity in this passage. We are to be of one mind. That mind is obedience to Christ while striving together to establish your brethren in the faith as well. Each believer must seek to walk worthy of the name of Christ and this comes through knowledge of God and obedience to His word. Look at 1 John 2:3-6
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Anyone can name the name of Christ. Anyone can call Him Lord and say they are a Christian. The way we know we are in Christ is that we keep His commandments. If you walk worthy of the Lord, you will also be walking in agreement with the commandments of God. If you keep His word, God’s love is perfected in you. If you love your brother, you will seek to have God’s love perfected in Him by keeping him or her upright by guiding them into the knowledge of the word and obeying what has been commanded. Unity is not possible without walking worthy of Christ.
Hold to the Head
I would like to conclude this study by looking in detail at the necessity of holding to the head of the body – Jesus Christ. It is also important to reiterate this point with scripture: unity must come through Christ. As we are drawn to Christ and are walking in obedience, we are also unified with others who are walking in the Spirit. Look at 1 Corinthians 11:1-3
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
The head of every man is Christ. The pastor is not your head; the church organization is not your head; a prophet or so-called apostle is not your head. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and each man. God has set up the family as the only organization within God’s plan which has a head other than Christ. If the family is strong, spiritual and obedient to scripture, the church will be strong. If the church is failing, the solution is not church programs but strengthening the family by teaching the father’s how to be spiritual leaders while being under subjection to Christ. The church as a whole has lost sight of its purpose because we have substituted our head (Christ) with religious leaders. God does not honor a two-headed monster. You can’t have Christ as the head and try to make pastors into the head. The role of a pastor is to lead the congregation to Christ, disciple them into submission to Christ while also teaching them to observe all things that God has commanded. It is a preacher and teacher’s responsibility to instruct those who are without knowledge in the things of God and to bring to remembrance the things that are known so that we do not let them slip from our focus. Jesus Christ must always be the focus, not religious leaders. Let’s look again at Ephesians 4:15-16
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The foundation for unity in the church is Christ. In fact, the Bible tells us that no other foundation can be laid other than Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Your unity must FIRST be with God before you can have unity with God’s people. Unity is not to become group-think where each person turns off their ability to reason and follow the mind of the mob or do the will of the group. If the group goes astray, we must cling to Christ, our head – even if it breaks up unity. This is where the role of the pastor is important. It is the leader’s role to point people to Christ and stir up their minds to remember God’s ways. Even a cult can have close unity, but we are first united with Christ and then we are united with each other in Christ. Once Christ is the head and we are joined to Him, each member of the church who is also building their foundation on Christ will become knit together. Once the church is knit together in Christ, the body will edify itself in love. Remember that love comes from God alone. A warm handshake or hug may show affection, but this is not love. Love is seeking the good and edification of another and the true good of another is to bring them to maturity in Christ. Spiritual maturity and obedience to the gospel is the only thing that will benefit our brethren both now and in eternity. This is also addressed in Colossians 2:18-19
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
If you love your brothers and sisters, you will not want them to be cheated out of their reward. Those who are puffed up and have become fleshly minded are those who have not held fast to the head (Jesus Christ). Once you let go of the Head, the church loses its unity, loses its nourishment and loses true growth. The growth of the body comes from God, not church programs or leadership seminars. The passage above makes it clear, the nourishment of the church, its growth and increase is from God. You can grow in numbers without God but you cannot grow in maturity without God. God grows the church when it is in obedience and submission by holding fast to the head by keeping the word.
So you can see that unity, God ordained unity, comes only through Christ. To have unity, the church does not seek agreement and affirmation of each other, but agreement with God by obeying all the gospel and holding to Jesus Christ, the head of the church. If you let go of the head, you cannot have unity. If a member lets go of Christ, he cannot have unity with God and therefore cannot be knit together with those who are holding fast to Christ. As an individual in the church, we must bear one another, or keep each other upright so that we are continuously restoring those who stumble back into obedience to Christ. When we struggle, if the church is functioning as it should, others will come along side us and help upright our spiritual walk as well. The whole church is then edifying itself in love and God will grow the church. Growth may be seen in numbers or it may not. Growth is bringing the church to maturity in Christ. God is responsible for the size of the congregation. Without obedience, unity in the body of Christ is not possible. Without unity with Christ through submission and obedience, unity with the body is not possible. Separating from those who are in rebellion is not disunity in the church but instead prevents disunity.
Our ultimate goal is to become like Christ in our lives while also becoming mature as a body (the church). Jesus Christ is the focus and God is the one who unifies. In these last days, it is more and more difficult to find a church that is tolerant of true faith; however, we must choose Christ over any organization or leader. If the individual believers will submit themselves to obey the word of God, they will see God moving and unifying them with other believers who are also seeking the Lord. First seek unity with Christ and only upon this foundation seek unity with each other.
Eddie Snipes
Exchanged Life Outreach
http://www.exchangedlife.com
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