By David Andrew<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 11:18-19) \u201c\u2026maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.\u201d <\/em>(Ephesians 4:3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern society is awash with \u2018influencers\u2019, \u2018opinion-shapers\u2019, \u2018movers and shakers\u2019 and the most powerful-ever global media to spread their ideas, provoke reactions and even control entire nations. How are we subjects of the King of Kings to represent Him when it is all too obvious that the local church is not immune to this fragmentation? The following thoughts are not intended to be dogmatic or definitive \u2013 simply invitational. Let\u2019s consider how to love across our many divisions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Unity is a \u2018Vine\u2019 issue<\/strong>. If we are at odds with the Lord we are never going to enjoy (not achieve<\/em><\/strong>!) unity with each other. The unity of the branches is contingent upon their respective degrees of unity with the True Vine. \u201cThy will, not mine be done\u201d was the costly expression of the Son\u2019s unity with the Father. There were potentially two wills at work in that agonising moment \u2013 the Father\u2019s and the Son\u2019s. Blood mixed with sweat testified to the grim battle Our Saviour had to wage as His authentic human flesh crawled at the thought of the torture ahead. But through the battle, His will and the Father\u2019s predeterminate counsel became one \u2013 until there was only one will. Charles Spurgeon said: \u201cWhen your will is God’s will, you will have your will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. However<\/strong>, if this vertical unity is secure, it might have the effect of revealing disunity among the saints. It will not be the CAUSE of our disunity, but it will have the effect of showing where (either) I have mistaken what I believe is God\u2019s will and others are more in step with the Spirit (or) the reverse! Notwithstanding political and commercial agendas, I\u2019m assuming the sovereign hand of God at work in the Brexit and Covid crises. I have no shortage of opinions about the handling of both. I\u2019m hugely interested in what\u2019s happening. Heaven is interested in WHY it\u2019s happening \u2013 and needs to happen. Like why Daniel needed to be in Babylon, Mary in Bethlehem and Peter in Joppa! Thankfully, all three of these saints kept in the flow of God\u2019s will \u2013 the rest is salvation history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. The question is <\/strong>\u2013 given that we will each bring measures of unity \/ disunity to the Body, how do we \u201cmaintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace\u201d? One flash of clarity that impressed me recently came from the extract of an address by John Piper. One of his comments is my fourth point\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. \u201cLet\u2019s look for, and assume<\/strong>, the best motive in the other\u2019s viewpoint, especially when we disagree. When Paul deals with disagreement in Romans 14, one of the things he appeals to is that those with opposite practical convictions have identical heart-motives<\/strong>.<\/em> [Emphasis mine] \u201cThe one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God\u201d (Romans 14:6). Christ-honoring passions, Paul says, can unite us in spite of differences of application.\u201d<\/em> The full article address is in the footnote below<\/strong>.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. It has to be significant<\/strong> that it\u2019s the unity \u201cof the Spirit\u201d<\/strong>. Since the Holy Spirit knows and agrees with the mind of God it becomes imperative that we \u201ckeep in step with the Spirit\u201d. It\u2019s good to assume that our prayers need to submit to the throne room perspective. \u201cThy will be done\u201d can just be an escape clause appended to prayers when we\u2019re too lazy or too unbelieving to really seek to know Father\u2019s will \u2013 but it can also be an expression of our genuine surrender to His will and superior wisdom. It seems to me that, if we are in the habit of surrendering to Father\u2019s will, we shall be more likely to \u201csubmit to each other out of reverence for Christ\u201d. (Ephesians 5:21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. It\u2019s critical to remember<\/strong> that Christ has grown and placed His church in a context of relentless warfare. Since the house divided cannot stand, the enemy of souls will seek relentlessly to foment division in our ranks. It matters less that he succeeds than that we use every dividing issue to \u201cspeak the truth in love\u201d<\/strong> and practise mutual interaction that is \u201cfull of grace, seasoned with salt\u201d (i.e. respectful, but not bland! Cf. Ephesians 4:15, 32) Thus we answer with \u201cweapons of righteousness\u201d and \u201covercome evil with good\u201d (2 Cor 6:7; Rom 12:21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n [1]<\/a> https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/JP2019art<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By David Andrew \u201c\u2026I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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