Unity

Unity has been an ongoing issue at my church in recent months. There’s been a plea for unity on the current church building project. My pastor even switched from his current series of going through the Gospel of Mark, to jumping into Eph. 4:1-3, as his call to unify and not divide, on the church's building fund (first they showed a DVD, then had a pep talk by some guy to rally around this project, then this topical message).

I noticed C. Michael Patton also wrote about unity at his blog.

Something is missing from both men, and its this: unity, true biblical unity is always based on Truth.

What my pastor failed to do that Sunday, was to start with the doctrines proclaimed in Eph. 1-3, which is Paul’s basis for going on to discuss how to live out the truth and thus have unity. I know for a fact, had he done that, it would have caused DISunity, simply because even our elder board, let alone many people at church, do not believe in Sovereign Predestination as Eph. 1 clearly proclaims. Its easier to get on the bandwagon for a building I guess.

Patton goes beyond that and says in his post:

I believe that it is a real possibility—even likely—that God does not want absolute doctrinal unity. In fact, practically speaking, I think it would do more harm than good.

What I am saying is this: it may actually be God’s sovereignty that brings about division over the doctrine of God’s sovereignty!

[If this is true, why does God declare His sovereignty on every page of Scripture--and clearly in entire CHAPTERS of Scripture? Genesis 1:1 makes it clear HE IS SOVEREIGN and between that verse and Romans 1:18-21, for example, HE says HE has made HIS sovereignty known to all men by virtue of His creation. Psalms 33 also screams out HIS Sovereignty over creation and all men and their plans as does Is. 40, etc. The list is HUGE.]

He also says:

I believe that doctrinal disagreements are healthy for the church. When there is conflict between opposing options, the issue at hand is understood at a more profound level than is possible in the absence of the conflict. Conflict, in the end, can bring about a deeper conviction of the truth. When there is no conflict, there is no iron sharpening iron.

It is often said that heresy is God’s gift to the church. Why? Because when a false option is presented the truth becomes much clearer. In contrast there is clarity. In clarity there is conviction.

It is for this reason that we must be continually engaged with alternative options. As hard as it is to engage in beliefs that go against our present convictions, we need to recognize the value of the struggle.

Here’s the problem with that post-modern thinking.

There was no Scripture to support his view. Knowing Patton has a very low regard for Scripture: he denies the inerrancy of Scripture here and says the Cannon of Scripture is NOT closed here. Its no surprise he didn’t include it.

Unity is imperative according to Scripture.

Scripture says God wants believers unified based on Truth and is reflective of the Godhead:

Joh 17:21 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. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that THEY MAY BE ONE even AS WE ARE ONE,

Is there disunity among the Persons in the Godhead? No.

1Co 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ALL of you AGREE and that there be NO DIVISION among you, but that you be UNITED in the SAME mind and the SAME judgment….IS CHRIST DIVIDED? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

This seems clear to me. There is to be some division? NO! There is to be NO DIVISION among you, BUT (in contrast to division) be UNITED in the SAME MIND. This could not be CLEARER.
But wait, there's more...

Eph 4:3 EAGER to maintain the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is ONE body and ONE Spirit–just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your call– 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: 13 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,

1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you, have UNITY of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

This isn't a suggestion. God is commanding us to have unity of MIND.

Phi 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Phi 2:2 complete my joy by being of the SAME mind, having the SAME love, being in FULL ACCORD and of ONE mind.

This is just as clear. Unity is commanded. Same mind, one mind, FULL ACCORD.

Oh, you thought I was finished? Not yet.

To say that disunity is pleasing to God is to reject clear Scripture.

Joh 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you ABIDE in my WORD, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you WILL KNOW the truth, and THE TRUTH WILL set you free.”

1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT, and because NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.

Unity is to be based on the Word of God and God Himself. Not some man-made notions of philosophy or a church building scheme. And not about whether someone agrees with ME. I am not the issue. Scripture is. We need to be unified on Truth for then we will be like-minded and of one spirit in one faith.

Patton and other philosophers say that through considering error we come to know truth clearer. Is that biblical? I find Scripture saying we come to know the Truth by the Spirit of Truth and Scripture; we know Truth and what is right and what is wrong by going to Scripture and thus going to the Lord as we dwell on His Word.

Isa 45:19 …I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

2Co 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God

2Ti 2:7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Luk 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Is. 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psa 119:104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Not done yet. There's more Scripture on how to know Truth.

1Ti 6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 1Ti 6:5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

2 Cor. 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Heb 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Psa 19:9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psa 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

1Co 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

2Ti 2:23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

2 Tim. 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Truth IS knowable, and Scripture has clearly stated what unity is and how it is achieved. Its only those who have a low view of Scripture and a man-centered mentality that are the dividers from Truth and seek to infest His Body with error, while calling us who stand for Scriptural Truth “divisive” “judgmental” and “hyper-critical”. Yet its not US who bring in the error and man-centered philosophies. Its them. To their shame. God still is in control, but such division FROM Truth, calling that which is evil, “good” and demanding unity on materialistic things instead of Truth is DISOBEDIENCE and SIN. God will not be glorified in that.