Podcast Episode #121
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Church unity, frankly, is lacking in too many of our churches today. Church splits, fights, and bickering are far too common. So today on the podcast, we look at eight simple steps that can help preserve church unity. These aren’t an overnight fix, but they can set your church on a trajectory to promoting unity in the fellowship.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- One of the major concerns in the church today is church unity.
- Corporate worship gatherings in the church should be focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word.
- A denomination will not be unified as long as the churches within it are not unified themselves.
- Where two or more Baptists are gathered, there are three or more opinions.
- Most disagreements in the church happen over the way things are done, not why they are done.
- When you start comparing your church to others, you tear down the unity in your church.
- The more you focus on prayer and Scripture, the more you’ll bring the church together in unity.
- The more the Body of Christ comes together in selflessness, the more unified a church will become.
The eight steps to church unity we cover in this podcast are:
- Make prayer and Scripture the focus of corporate gatherings
- Preach and teach about church unity
- Put others before yourself
- Talk to people, not about people
- Be a part of the change you want to see
- Stand up for the leadership of the church
- Be willing to not get your way if it means advancing the mission
- Don’t compare your church to the one down the street or across town
Episode Sponsor
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Such a relevant topic to post and discuss. The problem with point #1 is that in every church where there is disunity, I guarantee you that the members would state that prayer and Scripture are the priority. They would say; “We open with prayer, we pray for the offering, we close with prayer…and we devote the majority of time to the preaching of the Scripture…in fact our preacher preaches longer than he should.”
I would add a point #1b: Make obedience to and the practice of Scripture a priority in daily life and church life.
I would add to that comment that “obedience and the practice of Scripture” should also include daily, intimate prayer ought also be a part of every Christian’s daily activities. I sincerely believe that there is a terrible lack of genuine, two-way communication with the LORD in the lives of most Christians. I agree with what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” During a question/answer session at the Cove a few years ago, I asked the late Dr. Howard Hendricks whether prayer or reading the Word was more vital. He answered succinctly but properly, I believe, “That’s like asking a bird if he likes the right wing or the left wing for flying. They are both integral to flying.”
Funny how so many local churches left the culture because of a dislike for the music, clothing, politics, etc only to create a Christian subculture where there are arguments over music, clothing, politics, etc.
Sometimes it is the leadership that causes the disunity.
My opinion on that is they have forgotten why they are there in the first place, which comes back to scripture. I really like his point about if you have 2 Baptist, you have at least 3 opinions…lol.. Felt like he was talking about me…aaaahahaha… I really like this topic Thom has brought up on Church Unity.
When different denominations constantly focus on their different interpretations of certain scripture, and worship styles, it seems we all are missing the boat on church unity. Baptist beat their chest about “biblical truth”. Catholics claim they are the true church. Many Church of Christ are quick to question the validity of most other denominations. Presbyterians and Methodists are viewed by some denominations as too soft. I could go on and on. This blog mentions prayer and scripture, preaching and teaching, and the above comment mentions obedience, but the fact is… LOVE is the key to our faith, obedience, and church unity. I do not see LOVE mentioned anywhere above. If we all truly made love our primary focus in all we do, the rest would fall into place.
Galen…LOVE is the key to every issue you mention in your post. People LOVE “their” music, they LOVE “their” denomination, they LOVE “their” own ideas of ministry, etc. That is exactly why there is so much disunity. I agree with you that LOVE is foundational. In fact, it probably could have been #1 if used in conjunction with the following context: ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).
The problem with generically using the term “love” is that the word has taken on a completely secular and sentimental definition in the context of our day, rather than being defined in a Biblical context. Christians think it’s “loving” to overlook and tolerate habitual sin in the church and they think it’s “hate” for a Christian to confront another “church member” when they are habitually sinning. The podcast addresses the issue of “gossip” but this can be applied to any number of attitudes and actions which are contrary to Scripture…which is why Scripture must be at the TOP of the list for unity.
If Scripture becomes the standard by which we all submit our attitudes and actions, then we will all be unified around God’s Truth and what God loves/hates…NOT what you or I love/hate.
Love is not the reason for disunity. Lack of property applying the love taught by Jesus is the reason for disunity. Mention “love” like I have in above comments and many immediately default to the route of admonishing biblical softness. If some believers cannot even properly speak about true Christ taught love without getting it, then how can we expect to properly exhibit it to those who need to hear about it? Properly applying Christ’s love is a situation by situation task, and can take a wide variety of form from gentle to tough. Properly applying the love taught by Christ does not skirt or soften scripture. Without the love Christ taught us about, faith, obedience, Biblical knowledge are nothing.
Missing from these recommendations is anything sacramental. For the vast majority of Christian history, to gather for worship without ending at the Table was unthinkable. We have severed ourselves from the natural response of the people to the Word preached – the family meal at the Lord’s table.
Word-and-Table (which are inherently – but also intentionally) bathed in prayer is a unifying force for the gathered people of God. (But then we’re back to liturgy, aren’t we? 🙂