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Unity and Love in the Church (1)

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Unity and Love in the Church (1)

10 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

This was the text for the prayer service for the Synod in June. I have made some changes to bring this message in the form of meditations. May the Lord bind this message upon our heart “Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good” (Psalm 122:9).

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 2:1-5

If there is anything that serves for the preservation of a country, a nation, or a church, it is unity and love among the people. Where unity and love is lacking, we cannot expect anything else but ruin and desolation. Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself, shall not stand.” The old saying is, “United we stand, divided we fall.” A group with little power can still be strong when they are united, but conversely, a group with great power will be weak when they live in discord.

It is the same in the kingdom of God: The church can neither grow nor remain in when its members cannot live together in unity and love. It is absolutely crucial for the extension of the church that there be unity within its walls. If not, it will be conquered and swallowed up by enemies. Wherever God’s servants, sent out by King Jesus, go, they must ensure that the basic principle is the setting up and maintaining of unity. If that essential ingrediënt is missing, the work of the church will disintegrate, and the building will collapse. Don’t forget, we are not dealing with the honor of man, but with the honor of God, and the affairs of Christ.

After Paul, under God’s blessing, had planted the congregation of Philippi, it began to grow and flourish. To ensure that it would continue to be well with them, he wrote this letter, strongly recommending unity and love.

• “That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

• “Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Phil. 3:16).

• “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Phil. 3:1 7).

• “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2).

Paul tries, especially in chapter 2, to make the Philippians more receptive for his admonitions, and he therefore first gives them a number of reasons for unity: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy.” Then follow his commandments, “That ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Be ye like-minded

Satan attempted to sow the seed of the tares in the field of the Lord. False prophets had risen who sought to introducé a spirit of confusion in the congregation. They wanted to have more influence, they did most of the talking, and tried to lord over the consciences of the people. In short, they wanted to conjoin Moses and Christ.

• “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision (division). For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:2-3).

These false teachers forced Jewish servitude and bondage upon the people. They were quarrellers, and set the people on each other and on Paul. The apostle beseeches them, “Be like-minded, don’t let them divide your thoughts, don’t give the impression that one part of you is of this opinion, and another part thinks differently again.”

The word “like-minded” is often used in the Bible:

• “Be of the same mind one toward another” (Rom. 12:16).

• “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God” (Rom. 15:6).

• “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5).

• “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10).

This word “like-minded” has a broad meaning: It includes “duty,” and also the faculties of the soul, such as understanding, will, judgment and affections. It means harmony and unity among each other, a focusing on one subject. Paul wants them to have a feeling of unison in the love, pursuit, and belief of the same things.

• “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul” (Acts 4:32).

• “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).

Being united means to have only one thing in mind, to judge the same way, and to will, desire and seek the same. Paul pleads with them to work together, so that they together might prove all things, and learn to understand the mysteries of the gospel, with the result that they together, might embrace, believe and love them. They should be of the same opinion and understanding. He urges them to exercise unity in all the faculties of the soul, according to what they have learned of him. That is completely opposite to the unity that Satan works, or what the false prophets teach. No, this is a unity concerning the business of the Lord and His Word.

Unity means that there must be harmony and agreement in their midst, among themselves. They should not think that one is more important than another, or assume powers that they did not receive from the Lord. There should not be any lording among them, nor any attempt to be more than another. They may not force their opinion upon other people, or be dictators in the congregation. They ought to live and work together as brothers, and deal with each other as brothers. They should not have, proud or contrary thoughts about their neighbors, but Ihumble and like-minded thoughts about their fellow men.

Be one, all of you. Be one in your purposes, in the spending of your strength and your worthiness.

Have the same love

Paul adds to the previous statement, “having the same love,” because love is the fountainhead of unity. It is impossible to be of one mind when there is no love at the same time. • “Forbearing one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).

• “And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14).

What is the cause that the one feels himself superior above the other, and aims at lording in the church? It is self-love, egotism and selfishness! Not having the same love. If only the leaders in the church of the Lord would be more inclined to serve, rather than to rule and reign, there would be more unity. There must be love in the church.

“The same love” assumes two things:

1. To love the same object. You can see that in a family where many children love the same parents. That love is undivided, and not directed to different objects. It must be the same in the congregation. One half should not love Moses, and the other half Christ. It may not be as it was in Corinth, where the one was of Paul, the other of Cephas, and another again of Apollos. All the love in the congregation must meet in one object, one Christ, one gospel, one truth, one faith, and one hope. This is to have the same love.

2. Love each other with a mutual love. To love other people as one would like to be loved himself. To serve and minister unto others by the love of Christ. We should always be there when others need us, and to help each other with word and deed.

Be of one accord

This means that they must act together as if they have one heart. Being of one accord belongs to love. It is the fruit of love. Where love is, all hearts melt together, and all seek the welfare of the other. Also included in this expression is to be united in sincere intentions, to aim at the same goal. Jesus prayed, “That they may be one, even as we are one” (John 1 7:22).

Some commentators explain this command as unity in the doctrines of faith, to have the same belief in Christ and His teachings. To accept what they had heard of Paul and believe in the same doctrine. To love, as brothers, the same doctrine and also each other. To have one goal before their eyes, and to work together towards that goal. To glorify God and Christ, and to walk in the same way and use the same means.

There must be unity in doctrine, belief and confession. When everyone goes his own way, has his own goal, and uses his own means, there is no unity, and “the same love” is lacking. How happy is that church where these things are found! We must strive for that and prayerfully seek it.

• “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father, which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mat. 18:19).

The Lord speaks of two or three, but how much better would it be if the whole congregation would be in such a state, when they are together in unity to be taught of the Lord. There the Lord would command His blessing, even life forevermore. • “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:3-6).

How far do we live away from that necessary love and unity! Should we not weep and be ashamed before the Lord? Did we not leave our first love? What are the traces and the footmarks that the church has left behind? How much discord, wrangling, quarrels, and contentions there are in the church! The spirit of autocratic domineering over others has torn the church apart, has extinguished its light, and broken the back of its power.

Where can we find that unity, that same love and that one accord? There is division and dissension on all sides, sometimes about minor things. Oh, were the fiery spirit of lording and dominating extinguished! Everyone wants to be the ruler, and places his opinion above that of others; one follows this minister and another that minister. But in the meantime they forget the love of Christ and the love for Christ. Where is the returning of love? We do want to be loved of others, but we do not love others, and each walks in his own way. When things continue to go like this, the church will be ruined and go to pieces. Let us all bow under that one Word of God, before that one Savior, and worship Him alone. Be not many masters, but by love serve one another. Let no one corrupt your minds from the simplicity of the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed congregation of Chilliwack, British Columbia.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 november 1992

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Unity and Love in the Church (1)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 november 1992

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's