Biblical Principles on Unity

Posted by Pastor Jo on Mar 10th, 2009 | 0 comments home title

Unity has been a universal theme among churches in the last century. It is the central goal of ecumenical movements all over the world. And yet for all their efforts the kind of unity they’ve attained is completely different from Biblical unity.

In the circle of Message believers there has been talk about unity among local churches and fellowships who’ve been estranged for years. After all, we believe the same Message brought by the prophet-messenger in the end time. Also, it would be a good thing to see everyone coming together like in the old days.

Much as we would like this to happen, there are certain Bible principles that we need to consider before unity among us attained. In my humble opinion the following are the basic principles of the Bible for true unity.

The principle of agreement.

In Amos 3.3 God rhetorically asked Israel: “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” Interesting, the word ‘agree’ in this verse means to meet in an specific place by appointment. No two individuals can walk together unless they have decided to meet in one place.

God was angry with Israel because she failed wandered away from His Word. The same Word of God is the common ground of the believers if they want to ever walk together.

Our first step to true unity is our agreement that God’s Word is the absolute of our faith, nothing else. The Elijah anointing that came in our days was commissioned to bring us back to the Word from which all churches have gone away. The midnight cry of Matthew 25 called us out of denominational slumber so that we can walk with our Bridegroom into His Marriage Feast.

Why, even the prophet was subject to the Word! Listen to what he said:

If I ever say anything in your presence, as a doctrine or a teaching, that’s not in the Bible, forget it, because it’s not right. And if the–any angel (I don’t care how real he looks, and how inspired he is), if he speaks contrary to the Word of God, leave him alone. He’s not of God. Galatians 1:8 said, “An angel from heaven preach any other doctrine than this is, what already taught, let him be accursed.” We don’t–We don’t take nothing but just what God…

(Source: Explaining the Ministry, Phoenix AZ 012962)

And again:

The only thing you can put your trust in is THUS SAITH THE LORD from the Bible. Now, Church, that is exactly where I have tried to keep you, my children. And if something happens to me and God takes me out of this earth, don’t you never fail. Remember this with all your heart: stay with that Word. Don’t you leave that Word. Anything contrary to It, leave it alone, no matter what it is.

(Source: Question and Answer, Jeffersonville IN 082364)

Then there are other things we need to agree about. We must agree that we cannot agree on everything, at least not yet. But we must agree on the fact that no man in perfect or complete in understanding, even prophets and apostles. We must also agree that God continues to reveal His Word to His Bride through the five-fold ministry.

The unity of the the Father and the Son.

In the great intercessory prayer of Jesus in John 17, we read how Christ asked the Father to make the believers one. Notice how He set the pattern of true unity here:

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.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

Did you notice? The Son and the Father are One, not because they are the same God, but because the Son subjected Himself to the Father’s will. In the same way, true unity among believers is achieved

(1) when we submit ourselves to the authority of One who is above us all, which is the Christ the Word of God, and

(2) when we submit ourselves to one another in humility. In the Apostle Peter’s words:

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

(1 Peter 5.5)

The Unity of the spirit.

The Apostle Paul laid this principle in Ephesians 4.1-3:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Reading these passages tells us a number of important things:

(1) That unity is not easy to get, hence the word endeavoring.

(2) That unity is a walk that is worthy of our calling; and

(3) That unity is achieved in the bond of peace.

Admittedly, human spirit is as divers as our cultures, races and environments are. Our personalities have been shaped by so many factors. (It’s hard enough for a Bisaya to stay with a Tagalog in one roof!) Nevertheless the Bible instructs us to diligently pursue unity. And the bond of peace can help us succeed in this noble goal.

Paul is simply telling us that we must lay aside our weapons aimed at each other, acknowledge that we are in the same vocation and calling and have a common spiritual goal.

Having said that, Paul teaches us that we must strive together for the unity of the faith and lays down the basic doctrines of the Gospel: one body, one Spirit, one hope of calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of all.