Disagreement is not Disunity
This post is the first of a two-part series on the relationship between agreement and unity, disagreement and disunity. In this post, I want to point out that disagreement is not disunity, and thus (in the positive sense) unity does not require uniformity.
Let’s start with a statement that, hopefully, everyone reading this will agree with: disunity is a major problem among the church. The church is splintered in its expression in spite of being one in Christ. This is a huge problem. However, forcing (or requiring) people to agree with one another about everything does not lead to unity. In the same way, disunity is not caused directly because people disagree with one another.
There are several passages of Scripture that demonstrate that unity can result in spite of disagreement. For this post, I will focus on only one passage: Romans 14-15.
In the very first verse of Romans 14, Paul urges his readers not to quarrel over opinions. (Romans 14:1) From this verse we know right away that there were differing opinions and, therefore, disagreements. In the following verses, Paul illustrates unity in spite of disagreement with two points of theology: 1) eating certain foods and 2) considering one day as more important than others. Each of these are theological issues because the people involved consider the food or the day as important to their relationship with or worship of God.
However, Paul exhorts his readers to remain united in spite of these differences. How should they do this: 1) by each person being convinced in their own conscience, 2) by not passing judgment on others because of the disagreements, 3) by never causing a brother or sister to stumble against their own conscience, and 4) by seeking to please others and not yourself. (Note that this last one is also written in the context of dealing with disagreements.)
Thus, besides each person being convinced of their own opinions, all of the other exhortations focus on the other person, not on the self. As long as we are focused on ourselves, we will seek to lead others into agreement with us. But, agreement with us should never be our goal. Instead, we seek to help each other in our relationships with God. (Of course, if we are not focused on others, then we will assume that WE are correct, that the OTHERS are wrong, and that the only way that they can grow in their relationship with God is for them to change to our way of thinking, understanding, and living. This is NOT what Paul is saying.)
Finally – and most importantly – we all must continually make sure that our focus is on God. As Paul says, God is the source of both endurance and encouragement (Romans 15:5) – both of which we will need to live in unity with those with whom we disagree. But, notice that it is this endurance and encouragement from God that leads to living in harmony with one another and in harmony with Jesus Christ. Harmony (unity) with one another and with Jesus Christ does not come through agreement, but through reliance on God and the endurance and encouragement that he provides.
When we live together in this way – relying only on God, not on our ability to agree with one another – we will find that our lives are lived in unity much like the different voices of a choir (or the different instruments of an orchestra) join together to form beautiful music. Then we will glorify God as with one voice. (Romans 15:6)
If a person has called on the name of the Lord, I must be willing to fellowship with them
Last week, I asked the question, “What caused you to start studying the church?” There were several great comments on that post. Also, because of that post, I met several new people.
One of the people who commented on that post was Will from “Rochow.ca.” As a follow-up question to one of his comments, I asked Will if he was still able to fellowship with people who are part of institutional churches.
I loved Will’s reply, and I asked him if I could highlight it here as a post. So, here is Will’s comment:
Just because I no longer attend the traditional institutional church, does not mean that I don’t fellowship very regularly; actually significantly more than I did while in the institutional church. When I tell people that, the ones who most often have a difficult time grasping the concept are those who are still involved in these traditional institutional systems.
On one of my blogs I have a caveat that says that while I have no use for institutional church systems, the people within those systems I continue to love and care for as much as God enables me to (you can find those blogs on my website). But I still haven’t answered your question. Unfortunately, sometimes people misunderstand and think that my speaking against an institution is a word spoken against them. When this happens, it is usually because so much of their identity is wrapped up with that “place.†Therein is the problem; Christianity was never supposed to be about a “place.†Jesus isn’t a “place.â€
Am I still able to fellowship with those who don’t share my views? Not only am I able to, but I often do exactly that. The only initial difficulty, normally, is on their part, not mine. While I’m open to fellowship with whomever is interested, regardless of their background or denominational affiliation (and I totally disagree with denominationalism), they are the ones who usually tend to have issues with it.
Why? I think it has to do with the fact that many people still cannot get their heads around the fact that there are many active and God-fearing and Jesus-loving and fellowship-seeking Christians out there who no longer go to institutional churches. They rationalize that, if you are a Christian, then you “go†to church. I would argue, on the other hand, that if you are a Christian, then you “are†the church. How can you “go†to that which you “are?â€
Most of those I fellowship with on a regular basis have long since stopped going to institutional churches. Having said that, there are also a number of believers who, while still regularly going to those churches, also gather with us on a semi-regular basis. I also am involved with the Christian motorcycling community, most of whom also still go to institutional churches. This has not created a problem for me, nor for most of them. We have all been saved and love to spend time together.
What constitutes a saved believer? Institutional church affiliation? Belonging to one denomination over another one? Tithing? Mode of baptism? Speaking in tongues, or, not speaking in them? None of the above. Rather it is simply, as Peter said in Acts 2:21, “And EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.†So the criteria for fellowship is one: has that person called on the name of the Lord? If so, I MUST be willing to fellowship with them. This is not an option. Nor is it simply a suggestion.
John 3:8 says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.†If we are truly born of the Spirit, and listening to Him, it may be that on Sunday morning He leads us to such-and-such an institutional church. It may also be that He leads us to a nursing home to spend time with an elderly saint. It may be that God leads us to a park, because that is where He will sovereignly cross our path with someone else that He wants us to talk to. The point is, are we really open to going where he leads us to go and when He calls us to do so? I wonder sometimes.
There is a great video (about 10 minutes long) by Simple Churches. If you haven’t seen it yet, it is on my homepage of my website. I think it will answer a lot of questions that your readers may have on this topic.
Hope I’ve answered your question. Sorry if this dragged on too much. I guess you never really take the sermon out of the preacher.
God bless.
Your brother in Christ,
Will
Those of you who have read my blog for a while know how important unity among the body of Christ is to me. Will’s comment is a great example of how brothers and sisters can still reach out to and fellowship with those who disagree with them.
May we all learn from Will’s example.
A different kind of building
Three years ago, I wrote a post called “A different kind of building.” This post investigates some of the metaphors that Paul uses for the church in Ephesians. Primarily, I look at the combination of building and planting. The church (the people) are the house of God, but we are a different kind of building.
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When someone builds a building, when it is complete, at that moment it is the most resplendent that it will ever be, barring future improvement. From the moment that the building ceases, the edifice begins to deteriorate. Thus, when the building stops, the unbuilding begins. This is the nature of our fallen world.
When construction was completed on Solomon’s Temple and when the temple was dedicated, the temple was as beautiful and as perfect as it would ever be. The wood was now rotting. The stone began to crack and chip. The gold would flake off. In other words, the building would begin to unbuild itself. As you read the biblical account, you will see that there were many instances where people repaired the temple because it was falling apart.
There is a different kind of building – a building that does not unbuild – a building that does not fall apart as soon as construction is complete. In fact, this building continues to become more and more complete. It does not deteriorate. Instead, its beauty is continuously growing. What building? You and me and the entire building of God – the church.
This is what Paul wrote in Ephesians:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)
Unlike other buildings, the household of God – the building of God – the temple of God is not build on dead stone or earth. It is built on a living, breathing Lord. The whole edifice being built, is joined together, and is growing because of Jesus Christ and him alone. Notice the emphatic phrase “Christ Jesus himself”, and then the two relative clauses”in whom” and “in him”. Since the Cornerstore is alive, the building is alive. Since the building is connected to Christ, the building continues to be built, continues to be joined together, and continues to grow. This building does not deteriorate; it grows more and more resplendent.
Unlike other buildings, this building is not made of dead material. Instead, this building – this dwelling place of God – is being built of living stones (as Peter puts it) – stones which have been given life by their Lord, who is also their architect, their builder, and their cornerstone. Paul combines the metaphors of building and gardening specifically because this is a different kind of building – a growing building – a living building. He combines these metaphors again in chapter 4:
[W]e are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)
He also combines these metaphors of construction and gardening in 1 Corinthians:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:6-11 ESV)
We are both God’s building and God’s field (or garden) because together we make up a living building – a building which is alive with the life of Christ and grows through the power and working of the Spirit. This is truly a different kind of building.
Commenting on this building, Peter O’Brien said the following in The Letter to the Ephesians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999):
There is a mixture of building and organic images in the statement that the whole structure is ‘being joined together’ and is ‘growing’ into a holy temple in the Lord. The cornerstone unites the building ‘because it is organically as well as structurally bound to it’. So to speak of the building being joined together refers not simply to the union of one stone with another, but also to the union of the whole structure with (and in) the cornerstone. Both verbs, which occur again in 4:15, 16, focus on the idea of continuous progress. There, in a similar mixing of metaphors, the body is ‘joined together’ and ‘built up’ from Christ the head. (pg. 219 – emphasis in original)
The building exists because of Christ, who is both the head and the cornerstone. The building is joined together because of Christ. And the building grows because of Christ. Just as he has given life to dead people (Ephesians 2:1-10), he has also given life to a dead building.
O’Brien said that the two verbs “joined together” and “built up” focus on continuous progress. Thus, this building – which is built, joined together, and growing – is continuously progressing and continuously growing and continuously becoming more beautiful toward some final outcome. What is the goal of this progress?
…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ… (Ephesians 4:13 ESV)
The final outcome of this building progression will be complete unity – both with one another and with God – and complete maturity – measured against Christ himself. We are progressing, but we are not there yet. How beautiful this building will be when we reach unity and maturity! Of course, there is still much disunity and immaturity today. But, how amazing it is to be part of this dwelling place of God – a growing, changing, moving, working temple – which is an altogether different kind of building.
Stop the Disunity
Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia” has written an excellent post called “How to change a culture of accepted disunity.”
He is writing about the culture of churches and Christians (especially in the Western world) who readily accept and perhaps even condone dividing from one another.
In the post, Arthur gives us several steps toward changing this culture. I think his suggestions are very good, and I will list them briefly here. (Make sure to read Arthur’s entire post for his explanations.)
- Change our understanding of the church.
- Actively seek opportunities to meet … people where they are.
- Be willing to place unity at the same level as other doctrines.
- Stop the name calling.
- Stop being afraid of other Christians and other churches.
What do you think of Arthur’s “steps”? Would you add, remove, change any of them?
Crossing the Boundaries of the Local Church
A few days ago in my post “Q&A Session,” I offered to give thought to and answer questions that my readers asked. Several people asked some very good questions.
Eric, from “A Pilgrim’s Progress,” asked about unity. Unity is very important to me, and given Jesus’ prayer in John 17, it is very important to him as well.
Here is Eric’s question:
What have you found to be tangible ways that Christians with varying views on the church can show their unity in Christ? So often we are semi-isolated within our own local bodies that we fail to live out the one-anothers with other believers. What are some real ways that you would suggest to promote unity?
Now, I want to begin with a statement that some of my readers may not like. But, unless we understand this, we will not know how to deal with the structures and the attitudes that hinder our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The ideology of the local church (as it is practiced today in many sectors) causes sectarianism and exclusivism that tends to divide the church. It could be more institutional local churches or more organic local churches.
In order to promote unity among God’s children, we must be willing to cross the boundaries created by the local church. And, the person interested in living in unity with others will be the one who has to cross those boundaries. Other Christians will probably not come knocking on your door to serve Jesus together with you. You will have to be the to make the first (and probably second and third and fourth…) move.
The best way to cross those boundaries is through existing relationships with family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. Those seeking unity will need to work with the churches that their family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends “belong to.”
So, what are some real ways that I have attempted to show and promote unity?
Well, I want to begin with an example of what it means to cross the boundaries. As a church, we usually eat together on Sundays. We often invite other Christians to join us (after their own church meeting, of course). In fact, we tell them that this is an open invitation, and that we don’t expect them to “join” our church, only to have lunch with us. So far, very few have taken us up on that offer. Why? I think it’s primarily because it would require THEM to cross local church boundaries.
So, we have to be willing to cross those boundaries. The most obvious way that we’re currently crossing local church boundaries is through the local food pantry. The food pantry is hosted by a megachurch in our city. But, we’ve started going to their building and serving alongside them. We thank them for the opportunity to serve with them every chance we get. We’re trying to show that we are united with them in Jesus Christ, not only “spiritually” united, but united in our mission to “the least” in our community.
We’ve also found that children and teenagers more easily cross local church boundaries. Our teenagers often take part in the activities of other churches, and we’ve invited teenagers from other church to join us. We’re probably seeing more “success” in this than in any other way of showing and living in unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ.
We encourage the brothers and sisters who meet with us to meet with other churches – yes, on Sunday. Again, this works best if we “attend” with family, coworkers, neighbors, or friends who are part of the other church. Then, we try to continue fellowship by eating together with them, even if we need to make lunch or invite them to a local restaurant after the church meeting.
Furthermore, remember that Christians are often eager for fellowship with others, as long as it doesn’t force them to cross the boundaries of their local church. So, we work together with other brothers and sisters in activities that are often not considered “church,” such as homeschooling, Bible studies, community service, or parties.
Finally, even if other Christians will not cross local church boundaries, we can continue to invite them. But, don’t invite them only to your Sunday church meetings. Invite them to your home. Invite them to serve others in your community with you. Invite them on mission trips. Invite them to be part of your life. (Of course, this assumes that you are sharing your life with others.)
It is difficult to cross boundaries created by the local church. Some will think you are trying to “steal” sheep. Others will think you are “church shopping” if you are the one meeting with different churches. Some will think you are just plain weird. Don’t worry about what other think. Simply make yourself available and make efforts to spend time with other believers, especially those brothers and sisters with whom you already have a relationship.
Why are they surprised?
As some of my readers know, my family and some friends from the church have been helping out in a food pantry that is hosted by another church. The host church is quite different (ecclesiologically) than we are. But the people who are running the food pantry have invited us and welcomed us to help them serve the people in our community and the surrounding areas.
Now, alot of people work very hard to provide food people who come to this food pantry. My particular assignment is to spend time talking with as many of the 300+ families to come to get food. As we talk, they often ask me about myself or about the host church. They are usually surprised by my answers. Recently, I was thinking about this, and I began to wonder why they were surprised.
Why are they surprised when they find that I am not part of the host church?
Why are they surprised when they find that I am not paid to be there (not on staff)?
Why are they surprised that I work a normal job just like them?
Why are they surprised when I praise the people who are part of this host church?
Why are they surprised that several of our small church are working at the food pantry?
Now, it might be easy to answer the questions above in a way that blasts our current church structure and culture. But, let me ask you something…
Are we doing anything to alleviate those surprises? Are we seeking to work together with other believers (who may be part of radically different churches) to show people that we really are united? Do we expect our paid staff to do more than everyone else?
Are they surprised because we are part of the problem?
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Thanks to Jonathan at “Jon’s Journey” for telling us that this is the “Week of Prayer for Christianity Unity.”
I have to admit that unity among brothers and sisters in Christ has only been a concern of mine for the last few years. Before that, I was only concerned with unity among those who are members of a local church. The two concerns are not the same… not the same at all.
So, why don’t we join Jonathan in praying as Jesus prayed:
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:20-26 ESV)
While we’re praying, why not ask God to bring a brother or sister into our lives from a different local church, a different denomination, a different theological tradition, so that we can demonstrate our unity in Jesus Christ in spite of our differences?
Implications of the Headship of Christ
Josh at “Called to Rebuild” as written an excellent article called “Christ the Key Ingredient.”
He begins with what he says stands out above everything else: “The absolute centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ as Head over all things.”
Beginning with the headship of Christ, Josh steps through several implications, including love for, fellowship with, and unity with other followers of Jesus.
Concerning that unity, Josh writes:
Once I began to know this kind of unity I knew I could no longer denominate myself from other believers. I became convinced that this experience-this bond of life and fellowship-was the answer to all our questions and all our seeking. So I became hungry for more. And eventually I realized that to know this kind of fellowship on a daily basis-which is what the New Testament envisions-I was gonna have to live close enough to my brothers and sisters that we could see each other as regularly as we wanted. No more driving to “church†thirty minutes away, having a couple hours of fellowship (if I was lucky), then having to return home and try my best to survive the rest of the week all alone as a Christian. No. I would spend all my moments within the community of the redeemed, for this is where the Christian life is meant to be lived.
When we began to consider the implications of the headship of Christ – along with his presence – we truly begin to see the church and others in a different light.
What has changed in the way you view other believers because of the headship and authority of Jesus Christ?
Church, Churches, and Questions
On New Year’s eve, while our family was driving back home from Alabama, a reader named Rob started a good conversation on an older (almost a year old) post of mine called “What does it take to be a church?”
Since many of you may have missed the conversation, I wanted to post Rob’s last comment (which includes two very good questions) as a “guest blog post,” and Rob gave me permission. (If you’re interested, jump back to the original post and read the discussion at the end of the comment thread between Rob, Art, and myself).
Here is Rob’s final comment:
I don’t see any indication that the “churches†of a region considered themselves exclusive of one another either. They seem to have been interrelated and mutually supportive through the movement of ministries amongst them and expressed as in the support of the poor in Jerusalem. But we have no evidence of hierarchical structures ruling over regions hence the plural of ‘churches’ for regions but singular for cities and households. There is no example of elders in one city carrying administrative authority in any other city.
Yes we have come a great distance from the biblical pattern and I agree it was never perfect and perhaps far from it. I have 2 QUESTIONS I think are valuable to consider:-
1) How do we relate to the church in our locality maintain and express unity despite the labels and divisions. In UK (my place of origin) and Barbados my current residence I find that denominational labels mean little compared with previous generations (I do not know if this is the same in the US). The majority of people move among the churches much more on the basis of a) whether the church provides for their needs / wants or b) where they find genuine friends, which is a better motive. However I would like to see more believers being concerned with where they could best meet the needs of others.
The approach I favour is to ignore the labels and build relationships wherever they can be beneficial to the kingdom. We are associated with a network of churches – some of which are house churches, some are cell churches some are also part of various denominations.
2) Do we have hope and / or Biblical grounds for expecting church reformation and a perfecting of the church prior to Christ return e.g. Eph. 4 “maintain the unity of the Spirit … until we cone to the unity of the faithâ€. Does this ‘until’ hold out any promise of its eventual accomplishment?
How would you answer Rob’s questions?
Learning from One Another
Three years ago, I wrote a post called “Learning from One Another.” The purpose was to encourage believers to listen to and learn from one another – specifically to listen to and learn from those of different denominations, practices, and beliefs. I’d love to hear how my current readers would respond.
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This is going to be a different kind of post than I usually publish. I believe that followers of Jesus Christ should be humble enough to learn from other followers of Jesus Christ, even if those others are “different”, with “different” beliefs and “different” practices.
I believe that Baptists should learn from Presbyterians who should learn from Methodists who should learn from Disciples of Christ who should learn from Anglicans who should learn from Nondenominationals, etc. I believe that Conservatives should learn from Liberals who should learn from Moderates, etc. I believe that Moderns should learn from Postmoderns who should learn from Premoderns who should learn from Post-postmoderns, etc. We should learn from those who are different from us but who are, nonetheless, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Therefore, I am going to ask you what you have learned from others. Here are the rules:
1. List only positive things that you have learned from other believers.
2. List only things you have learned from followers of Christ who are different from you (i.e. different denomination, philosophical worldview, hermeneutic, etc.).
3. List only positive things that you have learned (Yes, I meant to repeat this!).
Have you learned something from brothers and sisters in Christ who are different than you? Please share those with us.
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This is how I responded to my own post:
From my more reformed brothers and sisters, I’ve learned more about trusting God’s providence and protection.
From my more emerging/emergent brothers and sisters, I’ve learned that I can hold to my convictions and still listen to others and learn from their perspectives.
From my more missional brothers and sisters, I’ve learned that mission should happen every day.
From my more liberal brothers and sisters, I’ve learned that the gospel can be proclaimed with hands and feet and food and water.
From my more covenental brothers and sisters, I’ve learned that God keeps his promises.
From my more charsimatic brothers and sisters, I’ve learned to wait for the Holy Spirit.
From my more catholic brothers and sisters, I’ve learned that their is one church.