The Bible calls for unity among believers. Jesus prayed for His disciples "that they may be one, even as We are one" (John 17:11). Paul said that the primary function of the church was "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith" (Eph 4:12-13). Peter told his readers, "All of you, have unity of mind" (1 Peter 3:8). Unity is important. That's clear.
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addresses this problem at the outset. He was obviously upset that they were divided over "'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.'" Instead, he appealed to them "that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Cor 1:10). In chapter 11 he reprimands them for the way in which they gather to share the Lord's Supper. Among other concerns, "I hear that there are divisions among you," he says. That's bad. Unity is good. Right? And then he says something ... surprising.
There must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized (1 Cor 11:19).Now ... wait a minute. Did I just read what I thought I read? Yes, it seems I did. The Scriptures are full of calls for unity, like-mindedness, agreement among believers. On the other hand, we have to know that there will be disagreement. (The Greek word there, by the way, is hairesis. If you pronounce that, you'll get the intent. Or, just step on over to a KJV and you'll see the word. It is "heresies".) Paul writes here that, while the goal is indeed unity, the reality is that there will be those who deviate from the unity of the faith. Expect it. It is certain. It is necessary.
Necessary? How? "In order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized." What is Paul saying here? He is saying that the genuine believers can be recognized by their adherence to the faith, and, by extension, the counterfeit will be recognized by their dissension, their deviation, their departure from the faith. John uses similar words in describing antichrists. (Note: That's "antichrists", not "the Antichrist".) John says, "They (the antichrists) went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19). Let me repeat the concept -- "That it might become plain that they all are not of us."
We are called to unity. It is the goal, the aim, the direction we are to go. It is the function of the church to mature believers to "the unity of the faith". We are called to be "of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil 2:2). Let no one doubt it. However, unity for the sake of unity is pointless. We are called to be united on the truth, "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). It is that nasty word (to so many) -- "orthodoxy". That's where we are to be united. And, if you are paying attention, you'll find that the majority of genuine believers are united on orthodoxy. They differ on smaller items. They squabble over eschatology or modes of baptism, but not the Trinity or the Resurrection or the Atonement. No, true unity is the aim and is more accomplished than most realize. And the factions, the heresies, the divisions, the dissensions among us are not only there, but they are expected and necessary. With those we can know "those who are genuine" and those who "are not of us". It's actually a valuable thing.
For further consideration
Now, connect this idea -- that factions show who is genuine and who is not -- with the ideas in this post on those who do bad things in the name of Christ and the contemplations on whether or not we should ever question someone's salvation. Go ahead. You think about that.
3 comments:
There is unity in the Church, for those who have eyes to see it. But for the natural man it is impossible to see for the reasons you pointed out.
The natural man sees things in the natural. An organization in this world has all the elements of a worldly organization: a leader, hierarchy, buildings, a permit from the governmental authorities, etc. For most, especially the enemies that are on the front lines--and behind the front lines--in the war they are waging against their God and creator, the "Church" is nothing more than an ACORN like organization with a political agenda. They have to see it this way because that is the thought forms through which they interpret their world. The true Church is just as unfathomable to them as is the word "blue" to the person born blind. The idea of "church" must be disassembled, forced into their thinking modules and reassembled after which, on the outside in the natural it still looks the same, but on the inside it is nothing more than a variety of ACORN. Check out Sojourners for an example of this.
Ironically, it would not surprise me at all if one day Jim Wallis and his followers are not held up as reasons that the church is evil, given their advocation of the slaughter of millions of unborn human beings.
If the world recognizes that Wallis and his group are evil, it will require a revival, won't it?
The Jim Wallace's of the 1800's were no different than they are now in that they were extensions of the Democratic party. Then the issue was slavery, which is now seen for the evil it was, and Christians are blamed, without a revival i might add. Perhaps one day abortion will be seen for what it is, you know, given the scientific advancements that are taking place, and Christians will be blamed for it also while citing the writings of Jim Wallace.
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