Labor Together In The Gospel Series

I mention all of that to make we realize that this issue of interpersonal conflict very much relates to gospel ministry. The whole story of Jesus and the church gets a few hundred pages in a book written 2000 years ago. Why waste lines on an argument between two ladies? Because the witness of the church depends on whether the gospel has the power to bring sinners together.

The unity of believers was a great burden of Jesus, even hours before his arrest and crucifixion. When he prayed for the church in John 17, he did not ask for power or boldness, but that “they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” We make our invisible unity in him visible by through our relationships with each other. This is what Jesus meant in John 13.35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Euodia and Syntyche and Clement and all the others used to be unified, working side by side in the cause of the gospel. But now they have lost that vision, allowing this relational rift to distract the church from the work of the kingdom. Agreement and unity shows the world that the gospel changes our lives, and it frees us to focus on gospel ministry.

Thomas Manton was a Puritan, much concerned with why God was not bringing more converts into Biblical churches. He found a reason here: “Our divisions make us a laughing-stock to the enemy, and then a prey. Certainly, if once a peace were settled in the Reformed churches, the prophecies concerning antichrist would soon be accomplished; those relics of God’s election, which do as yet remain in spiritual Babylon, would soon come out from among them, who are now scandalized at our divisions…. Alas! We have striven long enough, hindered the common salvation long enough; scandals enough have been given: it is high time to renounce all fruits of revenge and ambition, and think of peace and unity” (X, 331).

We prove Christ Jesus is Lord when we show gracious forbearance, love, sacrificial service, compassionate care, humility, sincere looking out for another’s interests – in short, when we believe that the high prize belongs to those who outdo one another in showing honor. Then people will say, “God is surely in your midst.” Then God will be able to entrust new believers to our fellowship.

4. Conclusion

Think for moment of the great work that can be done by a laser beam in contrast to a spotlight. One can burn through steel in a matter of seconds, while the other only warms it to the touch. Both may have the same electrical input – the difference is unity.

Because laser light is monochromatic, coherent, and collimated, all of its energy is focused into a small point of intense power. A spotlight spreads its influence, many colors going their own way, even occasionally interfering with one another. As a result, little of its power can be focused to do any useful work. The difference is unity.

God is not after a uniformity based on compromise or the watering down of our creeds. We wrong him if we caricature the teaching of Philippians 4 or the prayer of Jesus in the upper room with such a complaint. He is after the humility of heart and mind that makes us think the best of one another and unites us in love and care. Will God say of us, “My, how they fought for that unity for which my beloved Son prayed?” When we do, I think we will begin to see conversions and the growth of the Kingdom in our midst.