Thots On Christian Unity

Psalms 133:1 KJV  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 KJV  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:13 KJV  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
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It would seem to me after even a brief perusal of these scriptures that there is something to be said for the unity of the believers – even across denominations – and something to be said for the differences we hold across those same denominational lines.  Each group must consider where to draw the line of partnership, but these Scriptures should enter into their decision equation somewhere.

It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.
Good things – especially those things deemed good by God, ought to be pursued.  Unity in life, living, and the like is something that ought to be pursued.  I’m not so sure that this is the aim of our nation as a whole.  I believe that politicians SAY they want us to dwell together in unity – but they don’t practice it well in D.C., now do they?  But they are not the brethren that the psalmist is talking about.  He’s talking about those who are the people of God.  Christians should strive for unity with one another – rather than the divisiveness that seems to permeate the church today.

I’m not done yet, so don’t get the idea that I’m advocating ecumenicalism.  I am not.  
You see, there are times for unity and times for division.  
The problem is in learning when and where to draw that line.

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Here comes an important caveat to the “unity” concept.  Unity has a boundary – the Spirit.  The Spirit is truth, and He works peacefully.  The greatest and must unifying doctrines are meaningless if they are forced, if they are dictated in an un-peaceful manner (See 1Co 13 – on the import of doing the Christian things with love).  Peace is the binding factor – not reason or rationality, fancy speech, or holy doctrine.  When doctrines are challenged, and argumentativeness ensues, peace has left the room.

Unity of the Spirit means that we must, as members of the same body (Christ’s), we have the same Spirit of God.  We need to work to make sure that He is who is controlling us when we find ourselves and our beliefs challenged by differing opinions/viewpoints.  It is too easy to let “self” take over.  

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
We must all mature as believers.  Until we are fully like Christ, we have growth to experience.  Our faith will then be unified – for there will be no distinction.  This means that our immaturity is expressed as differences.  That is ok.  Truth still divides.  In the mean time, I’ve learned to appreciate the different denomination’s strengths, while also wishing their weaknesses weren’t there.  

For example:  The Pentecostals have a holy zeal and passion for the faith that I wish the mainline denominations had.  However, their teaching regarding tongues and salvation are faulty, resulting in great confusion about how to be saved and sure of it.  That is simply an example.  Most, if not all, denominations began with a great emphasis needed in the world-wide church and the group from which the denominational leaders broke (because the parent group was void of that truth).  Unfortunately, I have never seen a single denomination that was wholly right, wholly reaching the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  Not even my own, the Southern Baptists.  

Nor am I going to advocate a blending of these denominations.  However, we might be allowed to cooperate more in certain things – such as disaster relief, community service, and the like.  Unity in these areas will result in the unbelieving finding some reason to have hope again in God’s love for them.