Articles
Reasons For Uniting
For the past few weeks, we have been taking a look at Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, particularly noting how the church there was very divided and the numerous reasons why. This week begins a look at God’s answers and solutions for their division; let’s now focus on reasons [or, the factors necessary] for uniting.
Speaking the Same Thing. (1 Cor. 1:10) We noted in the earlier articles how Corinth was so divided, and Paul addresses their divisiveness and immediately provided the solution: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing.” There is, of course, more that he says, but let’s take one at a time, beginning with the plea to them to “all speak the same thing.” This is an important factor in unity that many would rather gloss over, belittle, or even claim is simply impossible. It is very telling that the ones who belittle this factor or claim it is not possible are making such claims and treating this so disrespectfully; we should rightly question their motives for doing so!
You see, all members speaking the same thing is paramount to achieving and maintaining true unity; there simply cannot be unity unless this happens. Commentators are at least united on what this demand means; Albert Barnes comments, “This exhortation evidently refers to their holding and expressing the same religious sentiments, and is designed to rebuke that kind of contention and strife which is evinced where different opinions are held and expressed.” Adam Clarke says, “The members…should labor to…speak the same thing, in order to prevent divisions, which always hinder the work of God.” B.W. Johnson wrote, “Have no distinctive party declarations [creeds—SH].”
On a large scale, the denominational mindset applauds the multiplicity of creeds, synods, conventions, and other human writings and authorities, but such are repulsive to God and the greatest hindrance to true unity. Within local congregations, when individuals are insistent on their own opinions and positions over what Scripture teaches [on matters of truth], or what their brethren desire [on matters of opinion], true unity is thwarted or destroyed. In each and every case, one must do a thorough self-examination to see why one cannot concede a point [if it is not a matter of truth] and thus create or continue division. Quite often, humility is lacking, love is lacking, and honesty is lacking. There will never be a good end when such is the case.
Let’s make this point right here: When there is a contradictory difference in what is believed and taught, there is only one of two possible conclusions we can deduce from that: (1) One side is wrong, or (2) both sides are wrong, because they both cannot be right. For example: If one believes baptism is necessary for salvation and one believes it is not necessary for salvation, it would be ludicrous to say that they are both right! In such cases, deeper and more thorough study must be done and a conclusion reached, but there cannot be unity as long as they do not “speak the same thing.”
Having the Same Mind. (1 Cor. 1:10) In that same passage, Paul pleaded with the Corinthian brethren that they “be perfectly joined together in the same mind.” It is here we must note something Paul will state later, and which we will consider as a point in itself: The “mind” they were to have was “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16); that is, they were to have a spiritual mind (Col. 3:1, 2), a mind that sought the will of the Father above all (John 6:38), and a mind that was willing to humble self for the sake of others and for the good of all (cf. Phil. 2:5-8).
At Corinth, the brethren did not have the mind of Christ, and it only caused division because they were thinking selfishly, seeking their own ways in preference to the ways of others, and were not necessarily seeking God’s will on certain matters [the sinning brother, for example (1 Cor. 5)]. For any brethren who did have this mind, it would naturally conflict with those who did not, for there would inevitably be someone who was acting selfishly, someone who was thinking like the world, and someone who would be acting arrogantly and acting as if he or she had some authority where they actually did not. With this, division was inevitable.
And let us not make the mistake of thinking that any old mind would be acceptable, as long as they all had the same mind; a mind set on the worldly things or an arrogant mind would not be preferable to division because such would only create division or prolong the division. The mind of Christ is absolutely necessary.
Today, brethren must likewise have the same mind — the mind of Christ — if unity is to be achieved and maintained. Each and every disciple must be guided by the will of the Father in the decision-making process, and even on matters of opinion [whether to wear a mask or not, for example], humility is needed and a desire for unity must guide us. I know it is tempting to say, on some issues, that our individual “rights” are being trampled upon, but that thinking is guided more by the Constitution than it is the word of God and the example of Jesus Christ. Let us have the mind of Christ.
Having the Same Judgment. (1 Cor. 1:10) Paul also pleaded with the Corinthian brethren to “be perfectly joined together…in the same judgment.” The “same mind” refers to the knowledge we have as the basis for our actions, and the “same judgment” refers to how we act upon what we know and believe. Here, again, each and every disciple must be guided by the mind of Christ as to how to address all situations and all others. When all disciples have the same mind, they must then strive to come to the same conclusion as to what they do with that knowledge. Knowing the truth is one thing, and acting in unison based on that truth is quite another.
For example, on the matter of the subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, brethren quite often agree God’s word teaches “one man joined to one woman for life, with one exception”; the problem is, they don’t always agree on the application of that knowledge. Some will agree with the first statement, but then argue that a man divorced for any reason my remarry; others will agree on that first statement, but then teach a man may ‘put away’ his wife even after she has divorced him against God’s will; still others will argue that the law stated by Christ is applicable only to Christians, so any and all marriages and divorces before conversion are irrelevant. While they all have the same basis for their beliefs, their applications are quite different and there can be no true unity as long as these differing judgments exist. We do not simply throw up our hands and say unity of judgment is not possible; we must buckle down and get to the work of finding the truth on the matter and sticking with that.
I will note again that situations like these, and many others, have caused some to declare that true unity is not possible, if this is what is required. I can only say that if God desires this kind of unity, and if Christ prayed so fervently for this kind of unity (cf. John 17:20-23), then it is something that most certainly can be achieved, but we each must do our part in striving to achieve it and to maintain it. It will often take a lot of hard work, a lot of study, a lot of prayers, and a lot of humility. Are we really willing to do what must be done?
Next week, we will look at more factors and reasons for uniting. — Steven Harper
