A House Divided
Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling in which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1
Being Eager – “Yeah, I know they’re Christians, but they have such a messed up theology. I just don’t have anything in common with them.”
“My church doesn’t believe what they teach. We don’t have anything to do with those people. They’re legalists.”
“I really just don’t understand why they can’t see the truth. If they only heard our pastor, then they would certainly change their minds.”
Ever hear anything like this? Ever say anything like this? Paul would have been appalled. He pleaded for unity and expected those who are true followers of the Way to be eager to keep unity in the bond of peace. The Greek is a single verb, spoudazontes. It’s quite an interesting word. The root is spoude. You can think of it as the Greek word for speed. It means “to urge, to make haste, to be zealous, to speed toward the goal.” If Paul were an Italian, this would be the model of his Lamborghini. “I urge you to speed toward unity. Get there as quickly as you can.” That’s Paul vision. Is it yours?
It’s so easy (and so tempting) to let things divide us. How much simpler it is to dismiss those who don’t see eye to eye with us. They’re Baptists or Methodists or Pentecostals or (heaven forbid) Catholics. Did you ever wonder why Paul never mentions any of these divisions within the body? It’s obvious. None of them existed when Paul wrote. Not a single one of the “true” faiths came into being until the church spent 1500 years battering itself to death with doctrine. The only outsiders Paul concerned himself with were those who denied the Yeshua was the Messiah. Nearly everything else was open to healthy debate. It has always been that way in Judaism. Debate was not a problem for Paul. Differences of opinion were not a problem for Paul. The only problem was acknowledging that God’s grace through the Messiah was the only Way. Paul put his efforts into what mattered for unity. The rest was just nice to know.
Of course, we’re much smarter than Paul, aren’t we? We have a corner on truth. After all, Paul was just a confused Jew. We know better. We have a thousand years of doctrine. We think unity means being conformed to exactly what I believe.
Do you ever wonder why, when we gather in those buildings with steeples, we surround ourselves with people who think like we do, speak like we do, act like we do and don’t rock the boat? Is conformity unity? Or did Paul have something a little grander in mind? What are you speeding toward today? Do you expect everyone to drive the same car?
Topical Index: unity, spoude, diversity, debate, Ephesians 4:1
Skip,
The theme of “unity” in the Church has been coming up over and over again in things I read and hear. I am all for it. The question I have been struggling with is how much diffeence is too much difference. For example, Mormons believe in Jesus, but I don’t think many Christians would argue that “unity” overrides the differences in beliefs beween Mormon beliefs and ‘Christian” beliefs.
The one I am currently really struggling with is your example of “Heaven forbid” Catholics. The two beliefs that seem fundamentally at odds with a number of other Christian beliefs are (1) whether “works” are required for salvation and (2) the deification of Mary (I never knew until recently that the “immaculate conception” has nothing to do with the conception and birth of Jesus).
Point (1), whether grace alone is sufficient, seems at odds with your statement above “The only problem was acknowledging that God’s grace through the Messiah was the only Way.” Consider this Canon:
“CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ’s sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.”
Does “unity” overcome the basis of salvation such that you could honestly tell a seeker that the Catholic Church is an option to pursue their faith?
As you know, I was raised in the Catholic tradition, have many Catholic friends and am struggling prayerfully with this question.
I would be interested in the insights of this learned and faithful community.
I would be interested in the
Hi Paul,
I think “unity of spirit” is primary and what other people believe/think is relatively unimportant.
Most of us would probably only recommend the views expressed in Skip’s Word, because we believe they are true.
But I think we need to be respectful of religious views that are not our own.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your thoughts. I do, however, disagree with your idea that we must be respectful of other religious views. Our disagreement may be semantics, but let me try to explain. I believe we need to be respectful of people who hold different views, but that is different from respecting their views. We may also fight for their right to hold and express those views, but that is different from respecting those views.
Otherwise, we start sliding down the slope of relativism. There is only one truth. If we believe the Gospel to be truth, then anything contrary to it is false. We should not–in fact I think we must not–respect false beliefs. In fact, I think we must speak out against them as being false.
This is easier if someone worships turtle gods, for example. It is much harder where their views are close to, but not quite in alignment with, what we believe to be the truth.
Thanks Skip, I appreciate your clarification.
Your point about the turtle gods is a good one 🙂
Actually, at work people do not discuss their religious views.
So I don’t really know what exactly they believe.
I just know they are very kind, cooperative, and respectful.
And the effect on me is a “spirit of unity.”
At this point, any job is a blessing.
Very helpful Skip. Thanks!
My initial thoughts on UNITY always go back to Psalm 133 where God COMMANDS a blessing on it. I think it’s sad that more marriages don’t take advantage of this blessing!
http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=19&c=133
Hi MOM (?), 🙂
Patrick and I are working well here in Houston. It’s great to have him here. Thanks. You can be proud justifiably of his enormous contribution. So glad I know him
Skip
Hi Paul,
Good questions. I am in Houston teaching (long hours) and will try to answer in a few days. Vital questions. Maybe someone out there will take a shot at it.
Skip
I just read this excellent article today, that goes right along with this article, and most of the comments. I had been very interested in ithe article, before I read this. It is ” onenewsnow.com. 5/19/2009 , Perspectives, Guest Columnist R. Albert Mohler, Jr. ” Should Christians ‘respect’ other religions”? I have read several of his articles, and trust his Chrisitanity& scholarship. In this article he brings out Pope Benedict XVI visit to Jordan this week, and that the Pope spoke of “respect for Islam”. Dr. Mohler, Jr brings out several aspects of Catholicisim’s beliefs on Islam. He also brings out his beliefs on Christians playing a diplomatic role as head of state. He states, “we are called to be ambassadors for Christ, and His Gospel. And much more that seems to me to be extremely timely information on Catholicism, & Islam. In the last paragraph he writes, ” Respect is a problematic category. In the end, Christians must show respect for Muslims by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of love and truth,. We are called to love and respect Muslims, not Islam.”— -Please read the entire article. L.B.
We lived in an Islamic-Muslim country( Pakistan-at that time literally West Pakistan) and I have read for 45 years every article that was in my path on them. For many years while I was teaching in public schools, I took the monthly publication,’ Aramco World “– I still have a few copies one has an article,”The Journey of a Lifetime.’ on the hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah ( Mecca, a central duty of Islam whose origins date back to the Prophet Abraham,———
Those that pursecute christians in other countries don’t argue about what is your theology, If you believe in Jesus then you qualify for pursecution or even death, They may ask you to deny your beliefe in Christ, not what denomination are you? Even the bible teaches that the wheat and the tares are to grow together, so even in the local church that I attend you will find divisions trying to crop up, but we are called to love one another. I also thought that if you called yourself by one of the many thousands of denominations that it was wrong, when asked what denomination I professed I would say I am a bible believing christian, but today I am a son of the living god by faith of Christ that is a gift and not something I qualify by my own spiritual merit badges. So I don’t disqualify anyone for only God can judge rightly.
Thanks fellow travelers,
Jeffrey