A drunk staggers into a Catholic Church, enters a confessional booth, sits down, but says nothing. The Priest coughs a few times to get his attention, but the drunk continues to sit there. Finally, the priest pounds three times on the wall. The drunk mumbles “Ain’t no use knockin’. There’s no paper on this side either.”
We know why we do something, but that doesn’t mean somebody else does. After all His miracles and teaching, Yeshua offered a prayer to His Father just before taking the eleven with Him to the garden to pray a prayer that explains so much of why He came to earth. It was after the prayer recorded in our focus scripture that Judas betrayed Him, triggering the events that changed the world.
In spite of careful and explicit instructions, the disciples held to their human understanding and notions about why they were there and what was going to happen, just as the drunk had the notion that the door to the confessional was for something else.
In previous weeks we have seen where Messiah is systematically preparing the disciples to be on their own, knowing that He was about to physically depart this earth then send a Comforter. He made it clear to the doubting Jews in the Temple colonnade that He was the Messiah, then took the disciples aside and told them that their witness depended on their love for each other. After the focus on love came an offer of His heavenly peace. These last-minute instructions were critical to the Gospel being spread through humanity and salvation of the world.
In contemporary times we have a the legal mechanism of the Last Will and Testament, which is to be read at the appropriate time so that our wishes will last beyond life, and those wishes and directives carry the weight of law because they cannot be changed except before death. In the Scripture passage we examine today, John 17, we see where Jesus has come to a time when he had given His final instruction, and now focused on communication with God, or His prayer for us. He had not only created a “will” with instructions, but placed His Father’s seal on the proverbial envelope to be carried through time as a directive for His followers.
While this prayer is carefully recorded, beginning with the 20th verse, we must realize that what He prayed for God to allow is for us to do. Yes, we can answer this prayer. Yet, this prayer for the benefit of humanity is against our human tendencies. What was this prayer? In a few words, it is for us to be unified with each other as Christ was in unity with God, our Father. Well, that prayer hasn’t been answered in the last two millennia, has it? But, if it were impossible, why did the Master even bother praying that way?
If we, through Christ, are taken out of the world’s ways through the same method or vehicle, why can we not be in unity under the knowledge and truth He gave us? Are we not thinking somewhat alike when we accept Christ’s teachings?
But, what is unity? Is it necessary for us to all be of precisely one faith and opinion? There are 30,000 denominations in Christianity, and many of them claim to be the “true church” or the ones who have it all figured out to the point of being the final word. Isn’t it amazing? There are 180, 552 words in the New Testament, which means there is another denomination, doctrine or way of thinking about Christianity, for every six words! We have emphasis all over the place that shatters unity like a nuclear blast on a peanut. Yet, our Master said, “they, meaning those who have not yet come to the knowledge of Christ, will know you are my disciples by the love you have one for another.” Does love break us apart? The better question is; what has divided us so?
Among the reasons for so many denominations are disagreements over Scriptural interpretation. Do we not have division and congregations breaking away because of disagreement over how a sacrament should be done? Select any sacrament you like and research the different man-made rules for carrying it out. How about personality conflicts within a community of believers? It seems reasonable to think that if the very Scriptures we are to live by call for unity (and it’s the prayer of our Master that we live in love), we should use specific Biblical instructions to resolve and heal our differences. Is it love that keeps apart? Obviously, not. Why must we argue over a scripture as a right-fighter, when respect, even love for another Christian should always rule? This is not to say that we should systematically accept what anyone thinks of a scripture passage. We must study for ourselves to better understand with additional instruction by the Holy Spirit. It also stands to reason that the deeper we study, the closer we become through the Holy Spirit. Perhaps I’m right in thinking that the Holy Spirit cannot mislead us. So, where is the Holy Spirit in a church-based argument, personality conflict, self-interest, personal agendas, monument building, politics or career climbing among the “faithful”?
Should we be in such disagreement, perhaps we should remain apart, yet First John 4:11 through 13 reads, “My beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us; hereby we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” Is it right to ignore this passage of Scripture so we can argue over another verse or doctrine?
The words we focus on today, from John 17, support First John four, “So that they all may be one, just as you, my Father, are with me, and I am with you, that they also may be one with us; so that the world may believe that you did send me. And the glory which you gave me, I give to them, so that they may be one just as we are one.”
Understand what this “glory” is. The Greek dox’-ah is translated to “glory,” and means; dignity, honor, praise, worship, to be of reputation, appear good. Dox’-ah is from dok-eh’-o to add to the meaning, “as an oak tree.”
Could it be that we have yet to accept or receive “the glory” from Yeshua that He promised us? With that glory attached to our spirits and personalities, we may be one just as the Father and Son are one. Is that possible? It is if the world is to believe that God did send Jesus to us. Being one with God through Christ, we naturally have dignity, honor, good reputation and we are as solid in that glory as an oak tree.
The issue of unity began in the first-century church. Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth about these very issues. “For I have been informed about you, my brethren, by the household of Chloe, that there are disputes among you. Now this I say because there are some among you who say, I am a follower of Paul and some who say, I am a follower of Apollo’s; and some who say, I am a follower of Kepi; and some who say, I am a follower of Christ. Why? Is Christ divided? Or, was Paul crucified for you? Or, were you baptized in the name of Paul?” This chapter is dedicated to the foolishness of human reasoning that causes division among the Body of Christ, just as we see in some churches where the pastor or personality is the attraction over Christ. Paul’s question applies to modern times when he asks the question in those four important words, “Why? Is Christ divided?” Reason dictates that for a human body to function with one heart, mind and soul, it must be unified; and so it is with the Body of Christ.
To be of one faith, must we give up on the church we attend? Should we ignore denominations or worship in our own homes? Honestly, I tried that. For twelve years I walked away from organized religion and spent Sunday mornings and other times, studying the Word, interpretations and prayer. Being a loaner in Christianity is not recommended and it didn’t really work for me. True, absence from conflict is nice, yet trading unity for “nice” leaves one empty.
From what you’ve already heard today, unity and fellowship with other believers is very important; so much so that Christ prayed that we would be one, as together, and not alone. However, one of the important lessons learned in my time of independent study is the ability to separate what I should believe and what is unfounded opinion. When I found a church that allowed diversity of opinions, spoken and received in love and respect, I realized mutual and dramatic growth in understanding the will of God, not only for individuals, but for the body of believers who came together in His love to be used by God. Not only was a personal relationship with the Lord encouraged, but bonding in missions and purpose was made possible. Loving support, within a strong body of Christ, makes it possible to give and receive, which is a major purpose of the organization we call “church,” and a basic foundation to the element of love.
It doesn’t take long to realize the purpose and focus of a church. Some exist because a group can’t get along with another group, and some exist so a leader has someplace to preach. The real test is love in the context of Yeshua’s love for us. At the same time, realize that diversity is not disunity, unless an exclusionary doctrine is preached. If you must agree with everything a church teaches or be excommunicated, or if a cold shoulder is turned because you look or think a certain way, or if your ideas are just wrong to them, then find a church where you can be most effective in ministry through love. Finding the right church with one visit is no more recommend than one date is to a marriage.
Ephesians 5:25 is where we start to learn how our attitudes toward our church and unity within the body should be shaped. Paul uses the analogy of marriage to describe the ideal commitment to the church. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved His church and gave himself for it, That He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water and by the word, in order to build for himself a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So, should men love their wives as their own bodies? He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own body, but nourishes it and cherishes it, even as Christ does for his church. For we are members of His body, of his flesh, and of his bones, for this reason shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and His church.”
It is important to clarify “glorious” in this passage of Ephesians, to understand the full context of what His church should be. The Greek is en’-dox-os, translated to “glorious” meaning “in glory, splendid, noble, gorgeous and honorable.” While this may be impossible for a church with humans, this word “glorious” and its meaning is the mandated goal of every church.
Our relationship with the church, according to Paul, should be one of leaving our old way of life and unifying with fellow believers so peace can rule the world instead of human nature. See how important the role of the church is to humanity?
This passage in Ephesians speaks profoundly how ministers and church leaders can develop happy, loving relationships with and within their congregations. Here is beauty, love and all the things in the meaning of “glorious” involved in this two-way relationship. Oh how I pray that the church can live up to this description, since Christ’s love for the church is our pattern for how we should love our church and each other.
Can your (our) church live up to the model? Where do you start? How about acknowledging that we should love this way and pray for changes in our spirits to allow such love? Thank people in your Sunday school class for loving you, praying for you and supporting the ministry. With the attitude of unity through giving love, you are loved in return.
A story was printed in a newspaper recently about a man, well into his 80’s, who was asked about his approaching 67th wedding anniversary, “What advice do you have for young husbands?” the reporter asked. He replied, “You have to keep doing what you did to win her heart in the first place.” The same is true for the love between pastor and congregation.
Then Ann Landers was asked what to do about times when feelings of love have evaporated? She counseled her readers, “Keeping doing acts of love and the feeling will follow.”
Pastors and church leaders must know and understand themselves. This is a tough one. Without genuinely knowing yourself, you may find your will being exercised over the Will of God in the church, which is not good for the kind of relationship necessary for branded discipleship.
Should you hear a teacher or preacher of the Gospel teach division or exclusion of other believers, realize that they are teaching against these Scriptural directives. Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” John 17:23, “I with them and you with me, that they may become perfected in one; so that the world may know that you did send me, and that you did love them just as you did love me.” First Corinthians 1:10 reads, “…be of one accord, and let there be no divisions among you, but be perfectly united in one mind and in one thought.” First Corinthians 12:12, “For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, even though many, are one body, so also is Christ.” Please read the entire chapter of First Corinthians 12. Ephesians 4:3 and 4, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called.” Then in verse 11 through 13 we read, “…so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Philippians 2:1 through 3, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Then, there’s Colossians 3:14, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
A common phrase, first heard in Latin, is “Divide and Conquer.” Divide and Conquer is used in politics, sociology and economics, and is a strategy to gain or maintain power over your will or even freedom. Such strategy is also used by the enemy of our souls who wants power over us and our spirits.
When you find that you are being separated from the Body of Christ by any entity, person, plan or even religious thought, carefully examine the purpose and ask “Why?” Then, let nothing keep you from a body of believers who understand the role of love and peace through truth, the truth of Messiah. Remember the Master’s prayer that we can grant, it is for us to be unified with each other as Christ was in unity with God, our Father.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.
©2013, J. Tilton
