Jackson- Hoover
John 17:18-21
The story is told of a little child in an African tribe who wandered off into the tall jungle grass and could
not be found. The tribe searched all day, but could not find the child.
The next day all the tribal members all held hands and walked through the grass together, this enabled
them to find the child. Unfortunately, due to the cold night, and the animals that inhabited the area, the
child had not survived.
In her anguish and tears, the mother cried, “If only we would have held hands sooner.”
There is great power when join together in unity and I wanted to spend some time today thinking about
our unity in the church.
You know, over the years our fellowship has not held hands very well. In 1865, The Baltimore
American, which was one of the leading newspapers in the country, said that the churches of Christ
were “the fastest growing religious group in America.”
Over the next 100 years, our fellowship continued to experience rapid growth—for in 1965, the church
of Christ had an incredible 2.5 million members.
However, at the present time, our fellowship is in decline.
Recent demographics show that the church of Christ has about 2.7 million Members.
Our fellowship is in decline.... because the population of the U.S. is far greater than it was in 1965.
Why is our fellowship in decline? I believe that one reason is because over the years our fellowship has
not maintained unity.
In John 17:21 Jesus earnestly prayed that believers “may be one.” Historically speaking, the Lord’s
church has split over such things as:
Musical instruments and whether or not to support orphans homes.
Lord’s Supper
(some have demanded that only one communion cup be used).
Over kitchens in the church building.
About which translation of the Bible we should use...
And the list goes on.
Both in issues of doctrine.... and over non-doctrinal issues
And I wonder ... When will the divisions stop?
When are we going to realize that lack of unity is destroying the church that Jesus purchased with His
own blood?
To be the Lord’s church, we must have Unity in the Church.
Today I would like to present two points on the concept of Unity.
First of all God expects us to maintain Unity
Look with me at Romans 15: verses 5 and 6
"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another,
according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Now turn to I Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 10
" 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.”
Just like a family must have unity to survive and prosper,The church must have unity to survive and
prosper.
Jesus said, “... if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
And if a church is divided against itself, it will not prosper either!
Let me offer several reasons why I believe that some churches divide.
Number one: Churches divide because of selfish ambition.
In 3 John 9 we read about a man named Diotrephes who wanted to control the church. In fact, the
Bible says that “he loved to be first."
Churches often divide over people who are hungry for power and control.
They want things their way, and if they don’t get it, they start causing problems or they threaten to
leave.
Several years ago, a man in a church wanted to be an elder. However, he was not qualified. Since he
couldn’t be an elder, he along with several other people, left and started their own church so he could
be an elder. Churches split over selfish ambitions
Number Two: Churches divide over believers boasting in certain men.
In 1 Corinthians 1:12, the church was being divided because several members were pledging alliance
to different preachers. Some said they followed Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ.
They were dividing the church over human alliance.
I have heard that some churches have split because some members liked the preacher, but others
didn’t.
Brethren, we must understand that our only alliance is to Jesus Christ. We must not divide over
human favoritism.
When a church splits, or people leave over a preacher coming or going...WHO were they
worshipping? Jesus, or a man?
Three: Churches have divided because false teachers have turned others from the truth.
In 1 Corinthians 15:12 there were some false teachers telling Christians that Jesus was not raised
from the dead. They were in essence telling the Corinthian Christians that their faith was useless.
So Paul wrote chapter 15 to explain that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. And in (v. 14) Paul
said, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”
Brethren, be sure of this, there are STILL false teachers today who distort the gospel message and
cause Christians to divide.
And we should never be ashamed to call them such... and to point out the error of their teachings.
They disrupt the Unity of the church.
I responded to an article in a brotherhood publication earlier this year and I received a note saying that
they would not print my response because I called a Brother a false teacher! (Which he is)
That is nothing but cowardice on their part as far as I am concerned. They are more concerned with
popularity than truth!
We are called to test and judge what we hear being taught! 1John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every
spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into
the world.” There are those who teach false doctrine, and we must not be afraid to call them on it!
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In 1987 National Geographic Magazine included a feature about the arctic wolf.
In the article, the author described how a pack of seven wolves had targeted several musk-oxen calves
that were guarded by eleven adults.
As the wolves approached their quarry, the musk-oxen bunched up in a semicircle with their rear
hooves facing out, and the calves remained safe during a long standoff with the enemy.
But then a single ox broke rank, and the herd scattered into nervous little groups.
A skirmish ensued, and the adults finally fled in panic, leaving the calves to the mercy of the predators.
Not a single calf survived.
Paul warned the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20 that after his departure wolves would come, not sparing
the flock.
Wolves continue to attack the church today but they cannot penetrate and destroy when unity is
maintained.
When believers break ranks however, they provide easy prey.
And when leaders and mature Christians fail in their duties... the flock becomes vulnerable.
There are many reasons why churches divide. We have just noticed three reasons.
Well... How can we achieve this Unity that is commanded?
The word “Unity” literally means “oneness, one of the same minds, one in thought, a lack of diversity”
It is funny to me with all the talk about “unity in diversity” that the very definition excludes that concept.
Anyway, to achieve unity: First ... we must be like-minded regarding the essentials to our Christian
faith.
And Paul provides us with a list of the essentials we must believe in Ephesians 4:4-5
They are:
The One body (that is the Church)
One Spirit (One Holy Spirit)
One Lord (That Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior)
One Faith (The doctrine of the Bible only and its sole authority in matters of faith, worship and life.)
One Baptism (Meaning that we are immersed, in water, for the remission of sins).
One God (There is one God, yet there are 3 persons in the Godhead). Not PC... Allah is NOT God
and neither is Buddha or Mohammad. (Don’t name your teddy bear Mohammed)
1Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”.
As brothers and sisters, we should believe alike regarding the essentials to our faith.
We should be like minded on what it takes to be saved.
We should be like minded that the Bible is the Word of God.
That our sole authority for our worship is found in the Bible.
If we do, we will have unity.
If we don’t, then we will have many, many problems.
And to achieve unity, we must also have liberty regarding the non-essential beliefs.
Too often, Believers are separated because of minor differences on certain issues or passages.
What a pity it is that our understanding about minor issues has separated baptized believers from one
another in the body of Christ.
Surely that cannot honor God. That cannot be the idea that God had in mind. Non-doctrinal issues
should not divide a family.
The problem in many churches is that people take matters of opinion issues and turn them into to
mandatory truths that we must believe or else we cannot have fellowship with them.
They become a “test of fellowship” for some. We must have liberty on non essential beliefs.
And... The Bible determines what is essential!
Look with me at Romans chapter 14 beginning at verse 1
“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he
may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 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.
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.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully
convinced in his own mind.
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.”
Now, look at what is covered here...
Diets and Days... NOT doctrine!
But as you can see...
These verses assume that there will be differences of opinion in the church on some matters.
Paul says we are not to quarrel about issues that are matters of opinion.
Some of our Brethren would never put up a Christmas tree!
So What!
Some of our Brethren will only use the King James Version of the Bible
So What!
Some people’s conscience will not allow them to eat in the same building where they worship... again
so what?
Those are not doctrinal issues, and they should not be treated as such.
Go with your conscience on those things, and the rest of us should as well.
Differences should not be feared or avoided, but handled with love.
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Not long ago my daughter, who is a student in the Jackson Schools, attended a football game with her
friend Courtney Moss. Courtney is a student in the North Canton Hoover schools.
During the game they were each hoping for very different results for every play that was made.
After the game they went home together and picked up their friendship without ever missing a beat.
In spite of the fact that they disagreed about earlier events of the evening
In our churches, we must love one another and be friends with one another although we might disagree
on some issues.
Please don’t expect everyone to agree on every subject.
And maybe, just maybe, through the sharing of ideas we may come to a fuller understanding on some
things.
We must listen to, and respect others.
Differences of opinion need not cause division.
They can be a source of learning in our relationships.
God expects us to maintain unity in the church. Jesus prayed that believers “be one.”
And we cannot allow Satan to destroy the churches unity.
We must be on guard at all times for situations that could divide the church.
And Brethren ...It is a serious offense to cause divisions in the body of Christ!
Look with me at Galatians 5:19
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Contentions and dissensions are works of the flesh! Contention is striving in rivalry. It is strife in
debate, continual controversy. And dissension is difference in; disagreement
And those who practice such things cannot inherit Heaven according to Galatians 5:19!
Paul writing to the church in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 says
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every
brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.”
In Romans 16:17 we read “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses,
contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
And in 1Corinthians 5:9-13 Paul says “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually
immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with
the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I
have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler (to speak abusively of another), or a drunkard, or an extortioner—
not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do
you not judge those who are inside?
But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "PUT AWAY FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL
PERSON."
Those who walk in sin
Those who cause dissension and division
Those who seek their own interests
Those who are divisive and contentious... are to be withdrawn from.
“These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks
lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
God HATES discord! That is the word He uses, He hates it!
To maintain unity in the church, we must be like-minded regarding the essentials to our Christian faith.
We should all believe alike on how one is saved. We should agree that the Bible is our sole authority
and guide for our lives and for our worship. Those are essential.
But to achieve Unity, we must also have liberty regarding the
non-essential...
And the Bible determines what is essential.
We are all trying to know the truth, but at times; we may differ in our opinions on certain non-essential
subjects.
On some subjects that may not be clear in the Scriptures.
If we disagree, we should talk about those things in love.
And if we still have different opinions, we remain Brothers and Sisters in Christ and part of God’s
family.
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And... let me add one more thing:
Not obeying the Elders causes division as well!
We are told in Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out
for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that
would be unprofitable for you.” (Not them... us)
These are good men, but they may make decisions that you might not agree with... follow them anyway!
Unless they are doing something unscriptural... we sin when we do not follow. We cause division and
break the unity.
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Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
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We are called to Unity
We must “circle up” and protect the church and it’s young
We must speak out against those who teach error
And we must withdraw from those who cause division...
We see that Jesus prayed for unity
We see that the Bible commands unity
We see that we are all to “speak the same thing” in matters of doctrine.
And that the Bible is to be our sole authority on every issue!
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Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that there is one church, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and One God.
Today...
If you have never obeyed and been added to that one church through baptism for the remission of sins...
I call on you to:
“Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' (Acts 22:16)
If you are subject to the Lord's invitation for any reason
Please come as we stand and sing.