Unity and Love in the Church (2)

How pleasant, sweet, and loving is the language that Paul uses! It is as if he wants to draw them with cords of love, and to touch them where they are the most sensitive. He does not say, “I am your master, and I give you the order to be united, and if you don’t do it, God’s curse will strike you. I am declaring unto you God’s judgment!” Oh no, he is using humble words of supplication. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God” (Rom. 12:1).

This stirring up, this exhortation in love is powerful, and causes them to bow and to accept. Paul is an example for ministers and shepherds to lead gently and to draw with pleasant words, not to speak as dictators and to rule with a rod of iron, but to continue with one accord in prayer and supplication as fathers in Christ. Those words, however, must also be forceful and firm.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ

The word “consolation” has two meanings: Comfort and exhortation. In 1 Timothy 4:13 and in 1 Thessalonians 2:3 it is translated by “exhortation,” whereas in Romans 15:4 the word is rendered “comfort.”

1. Exhortation

Paul says: “If there be ...” It is not an assumption, as if he is in doubt; no, it is a confirmation: You Philippians have received and experienced that consolation, exhortation and comfort, and therefore do I expect you to be united. There is consolation in Christ in you, there is fellowship of the Spirit, and there are bowels and mercies. That is the moving power behind Paul’s words, he appeals to them to appreciate what they have received. He is actually saying: “Look, these matters are there, and therefore be like-minded, have the same love, be of one accord, and be of one mind.”

Another aspect of this expression is that there are mutual exhortations among the brethren. It is an essential and crucial thing in the church that brothers warn each other, and that ministers not only teach and exhort their fellow servants, but that they themselves desire to be admonished too. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25).

It is an exhortation, a consolation in Christ, in His Name and for His sake, and of all the things that are related to Christ. They admonish each other as members of one body, as partners and fellow workers of Christ, and they are together united with Christ, and in Him, united with each other. They are brothers of Him and of each other.

2. Consolation

It is as if Paul is saying: “You are no stranger of the consolation in Christ in your heart. There is also among you the mutual comfort of each other in difficulties and cares, and that is the consolation in Christ. He is the Fountain of all good, and he who is in Christ, is comforted, but he who misses Christ, has no consolation and cannot comfort others either.”

“If ...” Paul knew what was going on in Philippi. He uses the word “if” to stir them up, so that they might search and examine their hearts, and draw their attention to unity and brotherly like-mindedness. Paul is careful. He says: “If there is division, discord, strife and the exercising of lordship among you, it would very well be possible, that you miss the consolation, and the exhortation of Christ because those things belong and go together. Where the one is, there the other must be also. If the one is missed, the other will be lacking too.

“If any exhortation and consolation in the Name of Christ has power in your heart, you must be one, and not have the preeminence over others. Strife and lording among you breaks the brotherhood and fellowship, and then the necessary admonitions come to an end.

“How is it possible that you exhort each other, when at the same time you are so far apart in your judgments, feelings and affections? How can you let the one rule and the other obey? How can there be exhortation and consolation among you, when there is also human lordship over others that is not in Christ? How can you comfort others in Christ, when you are tearing Christ’s body apart? Setting yourself up as a ruler is against the will of Christ, because He is the only ruler in His Church.

“If the exhortations in Christ are neglected, quarrels and division will arise. If you want to be comforted, make an end to the dissensions and the lording, and instead, serve others, and follow the footsteps of the Great Master, who has said that He would be in the midst of them, as one who ministers.”

If any comfort of love

God’s Word distinguishes between the love of God, the love of Christ, and the love of God’s children to God and Christ. But there is also the brotherly love wherewith God’s children love each other in Christ, and Paul knows that such a love exists. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment, that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9-10).

Paul uses this word to stir them up to brotherly unity, and says: “If you want to feel the comfort of love, you must be united, because when there are quarrels and strife and discord among you, the love of many shall wax cold, and all consolation will cease. Instead of the pleasant, sweet fruits of love, there will be the bitter fruits of envy, division and enmity. Do you want to keep the fires of love burning? Be united!”

If any fellowship of the Spirit

If there be any spiritual fellowship in the gifts of grace, given by the Spirit, which works in all the members of Christ’s mystical body, they all take part in those gifts through their Head. They are all members of the same body by the same Spirit, they all have the same Spirit, and that fellowship of the Spirit obliges them to unity. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

Do you have God’s Spirit, the Spirit of love, the Spirit of peace, the Spirit of meekness? Show it then in unity among each other!

If everyone wants to dictate what is to be believed, what is to be done, or what is to be left alone, the bitter fruits of dissension and division will be manifested, because the Spirit of God is not divided. Well, what do we see? People backbite and slander their fellow men instead of comforting them, and one tries to cast suspicion on another, so that he can maintain and build himself up on the downfall of another. That is certainly evidence enough that they do not have the fellowship of the Spirit. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men?” (1 Cor. 3:3). “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Cor. 3:6-8).

As long as we are not united, we give evidence that we do not possess the fellowship of the Spirit.

As long as we are not united, we give evidence that we do not possess the fellowship of the Spirit. It is only when we all bear a common burden, that that burden is light. How agree able is it when brothers bear a burden together, wrestle together for the same matter, and pray together for the coming of the kingdom. That Spirit leads, comforts and teaches in the same manner, and by the same power in the one person, as well as in the other.

If any bowels and mercies

This is a word of great emphasis, for it means the innermost and tenderest movements of the soul. It is a daily and continual being moved with compassion, it is being filled with pity and care for others. Not in a superficial way, but with heart and soul. Paul speaks in chapter 1 about the bowels of Jesus Christ, indicating the deepest and tenderest love to His children. If you love each other thus with all your heart, and when you seek nothing but the well-being of the church and each other, you cannot but be united.

Fulfill my joy

Paul had said in Philippians 1:25, “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”

In these words he demands and expects an equal recompense from them, so that they, by their conduct would increase his joy. Paul is joyful, but he would love to see that joy increased even more. He was glad about the furtherance of the gospel and the extension of the kingdom of Christ, he was glad that his labors had not been in vain in the Lord, but he was still far from perfect joy, for he still saw a cause for sorrow in the congregation. What could be done to make his joy perfect? By delivering him from prison? By providing him with more means for the nourishment of his body? No, by having unity in the congregation — then his sorrow would be taken away and his joy fulfilled.

The well-being and the unity in the church is the joy of its ministers too, for their joy cannot be perfect when that unity is lacking. It is the duty of the congregation and the office-bearers to promote that unity, for the church’s welfare must weigh heavily on the hearts of all in the congregation.

There is work to do to fulfill that joy: show that you have a tender heart, and that you are not willing to quarrel. Out of love for the church, have compassion on your neighbor, instead of fighting him. Doesn’t your heart go out to the bride of Christ? Make an end then to all that discord and strife, for else she will die, for the church goes to ruin by its internal dissension and quarrels.

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

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