The Church, One Body United
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Introduction
Introduction
There is an old Swahili proverb that says, “Unity is strength, division is weakness.”
The Baptist faith was born into an environment of division and strife. As new churches were formed in the Protestant movement and Baptists sought separation from the oppressive Church of England, early Baptist history is a story of trial and error.
It is probably telling that some of the most foundational Baptist thinking came from Roger Williams, a man who only identified as a Baptist for only four months.
It is probably telling that some of the most foundational Baptist thinking came from Roger Williams, a man who only identified as a Baptist for four months.
But division should not be a hallmark of the church.
This is how we wind up with church names like Second New Harmony Baptist Church.
But division should not be a hallmark of the church.
But division should not be a hallmark of the church.
Paul taught the early church a doctrine of unity, based in personal humility. The Doctrine of Unity in the Local Church permeates Paul’s writing, especially in Ephesian, Corinthians, and Philippians. Let’s read from Philippians 2...
Paul taught the early church a doctrine of unity, based in personal humility.
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The church in Phillipi was experiencing an argument between two women in the church, Euodia and Syntyche. We don’t know what they were arguing about, but we can see from Paul’s writing that they were at odds and it was impacting the church so much that he had to write instructions to the church elders as to how to address the problem.
Paul pointed out that putting on the character of Christ and taking on a position of personal humility was just what the Philippians needed to strengthen their church.
How refreshing it would be if our churches would always strive together for unity in everything. Unity and order are important parts of our Baptist heritage, as it relates to our congregational form of church government.
I. Unity Above All Else
I. Unity Above All Else
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
These “if then” statements in verse 1 are not intended to cause any doubt, but used as a rhetorical device to build an emphatic case for Paul’s argument. There is no doubt that there is “encouragement in Christ” or “consolation of love” these are found in Christ, therefore they are a supporting argument for unity.
These “if then” statements in verse 1 are not intended to cause any doubt, but used as a rhetorical device to build an emphatic case for Paul’s argument. There is no doubt that there is “encouragement in Christ” or “consolation of love” these are found in Christ, therefore they are a supporting argument for unity...
Let’s take a look at these characteristics of unity that Paul is encouraging in verse 2...
2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
A. Unity of Mind - Cognitively Engaged
A. Unity of Mind - Cognitively Engaged
“thinking in the same way”
This phrase does not mean that we are to be mindless sheep, never questioning, following along in a herd-like mindset. It means that we are to be cognitively engaged with each other. We are to share the same attitudes.
This form of unity is an important part of life together. This is why we have Sunday School and Bible study. When we study the word together we share our impressions and findings and grow deeper in Christ together.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
We should be united in mind.
We should be united in mind.
B. United in Love - Emotionally Engaged
B. United in Love - Emotionally Engaged
“having the same love”
This phrase indicates that we are to be loving to each other. When we each have the love of Christ for others in the church, we are emotionally engaged.
We get to this form of unity when we participate in Life Groups or other forms of small groups. I always teach that Life Groups are a place where we learn together, we serve together, we care for each other’s needs, and we share a meal together. Each of these aspects allows us to become bonded together in love and grow more deeply in Christ.
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.
10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
We should practice being united in love.
We should practice being united in love.
We should practice being united in love.
C. United in Spirit - Spiritually Engaged
C. United in Spirit - Spiritually Engaged
“united in spirit”
It completely makes sense that as a church we should be united in spirit. The text actually says that the local church should share “one soul.” We are tied together by something much deeper than place or circumstance. This means that we are to be spiritually engaged with each other and spiritually engaged with Christ.
We accomplish this through prayer and investing in each other’s lives.
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
eph 4:1-4
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
When we truly care for each other we are united in spirit.
D. United in Purpose - Missionally Engaged
D. United in Purpose - Missionally Engaged
“intent on one purpose”
When the team shares an experience they are bound together by that experience.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
This reminds me of the “Band of Brothers” concept. Often times soldiers, who are separated from family and thrust into extreme situations will form a brotherly bond that is not easily broken.
Eccl
We can experience that bond in our churches too. We are united by our mission...
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When we are missionally engaged in purpose and serving others through outreach to our community and to our world, then we become united in purpose.
We should practice being united in purpose.
e should practice being united in purpose.
II. Unity Requires Humility
II. Unity Requires Humility
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
As a church, we will never achieve unity when we are focused on our own traditions, our preferences, our agendas. When there is a spirit of competition and division in the church, there is disunity.
“selfish ambition”
This phrase “selfish ambition” has the sense of a feud or long-standing rivalry. This is the sense that we can see in our national politics today. There is actually a sense of “division along party lines” in the Greek text here.
When we see this selfish ambition creep into our church council meetings and church business meetings, there is trouble in the camp. These sentiments left unchallenged will develop into a church divided.
“in humility consider others as more important than yourselves”
Then Paul defines humility. He says that humility is considering “others as more important than yourselves.” Now, admittedly, this is hard when you have trouble loving yourself.
Paul continues...
III. Care for Others
III. Care for Others
4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
At first blush this sounds like kindergarten wisdom. But sometimes the simplest wisdom is the hardest to live out in our daily lives.
Jesus said it this way in his Great Commandment...
The Great Commandment
The Great Commandment
31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
How Hard is it to Love?
How Hard is it to Love?
It’s not hard to love people who love us, because we are already getting something from them.
Humility requires us to love people who do not love us back.
Humility requires us to love people who are different than we are.
Humility requires us to love people who do not think like we do.
Humility requires us to love people who are on the opposite side of an argument.
Humility requires us to love people who plot against us and block our agendas.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I would put forth this challenge as we all pursue ministry and membership in the local church:
Pursue unity in the local church with everything that is in you. The church that fails the unity test fails. period.
Cover your churches in prayer. Pray for those who are for you and for those who are against you.
Teach the truth every opportunity you are able.
Disciple believers and give them the opportunity to know who you are.
But above all… pursue unity!