Unity or Division?

February 27, 2005

Introduction

Unity!  What is it?  How can we have it?  Where do we need it? Why do we need it?

Body

I.        Why do we need unity?

1. It is needed because Christ prayed for unity.

(John 17:20-23 NKJV)  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; {21} "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. {22} "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: {23} "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

2. Christ said it is needed so that the world would know that God had sent Him.  Unity of all believers would be a powerful witness to the world.

3. Unity was the plea of Alexander Campbell and others of the Restoration Movement.

1.      In the last decades of the 1800’s, the church doubled in size every 10 years until it had grown to about 1,000,000 members by 1900. 

2.      We haven’t grown too much past that in the 100 years that followed.

3.      What happened?  I think we lost the spirit of the restoration movement.

II.     Where do we need unity?

1. Our first thought is perhaps the church.
2. We need unity – harmony in our homes.
3. We need unity in our nation.
4. We need unity in the workplace.
5. There is something that all of these have in common:  it is a spirit, or attitude that is needed.

III.   What do you mean by unity?

 u·ni·ty (y›“n¹-t¶) n., pl. u·ni·ties. 1. The state or quality of being one; singleness. 2. The state or quality of being in accord; harmony. 3.a. The combination or arrangement of parts into a whole; unification. b. A combination or union thus formed. 4. Singleness or constancy of purpose or action; continuity: “In an army you need unity of purpose” (Emmeline Pankhurst) – The American Heritage Dictionary.

A.     But is that what we mean when we speak of unity in the church?

1.      The church divides over our opinions as to how things should be done.

2.      The church at Corinth did not have unity because they had party spirit.

(1 Cor 1:10-13 NKJV)  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. {11} For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions¹ among you. {12} Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." {13} Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

¹a quarrel, i.e. (by impl.) wrangling:--contention, debate, strife, variance.

B.     Is their a unity that is based on definition 2: “The state or quality of being in accord; harmony”?

C.     When there is unity, defined as harmony, there is also peace.

IV.  How can we have it?

1. We must decide on a basis of unity.

1.      It sounds simple:  let’s unite on what the Bible says!

a.       Who’s interpretation?

b.      Are we going by clear commands?  Necessary inferences, The implication of examples?

c.       Which ones?  Are our ladies required to wear long hair?  What’s the definition of long?  Are they required to have their heads covered?

(1 Cor 11:6 NKJV)  For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

2. The Bible gives a basis for unity.  It might surprise some.

1.      Harley’s paraphrase:  “Agree to disagree.”

2.      (Rom 14:1-6 NKJV)  Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. {2} For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. {3} Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. {4} Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. {5} One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. {6} He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

3. What is our attitude toward this verse?

1.      What days are you talking about?

2.      Paul didn’t say did he?

a.        It might be Easter, or Christmas. What about Sunday?

b.       These are not to be a test of fellowship.

4. What else does the Bible say about unity?

(Eph 4:1-3 NKJV)  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 (put up with) one another in love, {3} endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

(Col 3:12-16 NKJV)  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with (put up with) one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. {15} And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

V.     Are we to conclude that “anything goes”? – No.

1. Where the Bible speaks, we must speak.
2. We must stand for the great truths of the Bible.

(Rev 2:20 NKJV)  "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Conclusion

I.        What is our greatest obstacle to unity today?

1. In short, I believe it is a party spirit.
2. An attitude of you must see everything as I do, or we cannot have unity.
3. One thing for sure:  We won’t get together with God on those terms.

II.  Is your life right with God?

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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