[Biblemat] Article - How Is Unity Possible? - Number 13

[GLClair at aol.com]

How Is Unity Possible – Number 13 

Ye, there have been continuous difficulties in each generation of God’s  
people that has prevented complete unity of thought and practice of the religion  
of Jesus Christ. 
UNITY  AND THE HUMAN CONDITION must be  considered whenever one sets out to 
find unity in religion. Indeed even in the  church you belong to and in the 
congregation I belong to there are differences  in thought about many things 
worldly and spiritual.   
1.         There is differences of opinion about how to raise our  children 
2.         There is differences of opinions about politics and our relation 
as  Christians to the political situation [i.e. are you republican, democrat, 
or  something else?} 
3.         There is differences about the problems of Christians in War and 
of  Christians being policemen. 
4.         There is differences of philosophy and religious signification 
with  regard to the length of a man’s hair and the woman’s hair [i.e. whether 
hair is  enough or if a woman need wear an additional  cloth]. 
5.         There is differences of opinion about prayer  posture 
6.         There is differences of opinions about Biblical  fellowship 
7.         There is differences of opinion about Biblical issues that relate 
to  marriage, divorce, and marrying the second or third  time. 
8.         I know of a church where the elders used to require that every 
person who  had an active part in the worship should wear a suit and  tie. 
9.         There is differences in every church and its membership about such 
things  as dancing the prom for their children, spring break, sleep-overs at 
the home of  non-Christians, mixed swimming, etc. 
10.       There are differences among brethren over the Sunday night serving 
of the  Lord’s Supper to those who were hindered during the AM  service. 
11.       I recently read an article by a brother who takes the position that 
 missing any of the services of the local congregation is a personal matter – 
He  takes the position that the only service that Christians are required to 
be in  worship for is the Sunday Morning service where the Lord’s Supper is 
offered and  the collection is taken. 
12.       There are some who think social drinking is ok and that such things 
 belong in matters of judgment 
13.       Differences in application of the contents of Romans 14 – some 
suggest  that such things a MDR differences belong in this category, some  don’t. 
NOTE: I know  that many of these factors are present in nearly ever church in 
the  land. 
HOW CAN SUCH A CONDITION BE SERIOUSLY CALLED A “UNIFIED EFFORT”  
Such conditions as those we have listed and others are prevalent all over  
our brotherhood today. Many major divisions have separated large segments into  
new religious movements:
EXAMPLES: 
Christian  Churches 
Disciples of Christ 
Mechanical instruments of music Churches 
One cup Churches 
No located, paid, preacher Churches 
No women teachers no Bible class  Churches 
Liberal Churches {Human institutional churches, kitchens in the building,  
basball teams, etc.] 
Theistic evolution believed by some church  members 
CONSIDER THIS POSSIBILITY: 
There have been only a few churches that have not gone over into open  
apostasy, these churches are serious about the injunctions of Scripture that  
encourage “unity of the spirit in the  bond of peace” Yet, these churches too have 
different opinions about  many subjects within their ranks. Yet in spite of 
this diverse group of  people in each congregation there is a willingness to 
pursue unity on a  continued basis. Perhaps this is what the Lord was praying for 
in John  17:9-22, “9 I pray for them: I pray not  for the world, but for them 
which thou hast given me; for they are  thine. 
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in  them. 
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I  come 
to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast  given 
me, that they may be one , as we are. 
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those  that 
thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of  
perdition; that the scripture might be  fulfilled. 
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that  they 
might have my joy fulfilled in  themselves. 
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because  they 
are not of the world, even as I am not of the  world. 
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that  thou 
shouldest keep them from the evil. 
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the  world. 
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is  truth. 
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them  into 
the world. 
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be  sanctified 
through the truth. 
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe  on 
me through their word; 
21 That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in  thee, 
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast  sent 
me. 
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be  
one , even as we are one :” KJV 
Is it possible that the unity for which Christ prayed on this occasion  
cannot be realized by Christians who hold quiet views that are unacceptable to  the 
majority in a congregation. Even such problems as previously listed and  
perhaps many more unknown to this author. Where is the  answer to be found?  We 
will address  this question in greater detail as we continue to develop this  
study. 

_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)  
considermagazine.com



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