TITLE: UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
SCRIPTURE: I CORINTHIANS 1:10-15
I stand this afternoon honored and consider it a privilege to share in this great marriage between Church and Pastor. What a wonderful celebration we have had unto this point. The foundation has been laid to help us receive the Word that the Lord has in store for us this afternoon. I trust the Word will encourage this my friend and your new Pastor, his wonderful wife, as well as the leaders of this MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
I have been given your theme and scripture text which I understand your Pastor has been teaching over the past month or so. I have prayed over the text and theme that God might give me what needs to be shared during this marriage celebration between Congregation and Under-Shepherd that will strengthen and encourage not only this body of Christ, but all represented here this afternoon. Although your text places focus upon one single verse – VS. 10 it is important that we read through VS. 15 to have a clearer picture of what Paul has to say to us during this preaching time together. I do lift up as a thought your theme for this glorious occasion as it was presented to me – “Unity in the Community”
Some years ago, after a sermon I delivered on church unity and I think I did a pretty good job with it as well. I’ll never forget the little girl who approached me standing next to her Dad after the service. She said, “MISTER PASTOR, WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ABOMINATIONS?” I chuckled at her mispronunciation of “denomination,” but thought to myself, perhaps her term is the more appropriate one to describe the division that sometimes exists between so many churches.
In the body of Christ, the various denominations exist largely due to different opinions about certain doctrines - organizational government - the style of worship - or perhaps passed-down traditions. But what is not commonly understood, is most Christian churches have far more in common than they have in disagreement with each other.
• Researchers indicate the majority of protestant/evangelical congregations in the U.S. share at least 90% of the same beliefs
• More importantly, there is little disagreement over the most basic elements of Christianity — such as Jesus’ life and teachings, including His DEITY - DEATH - RESURRECTION
• Here is what we all agree upon and it is referred to as the APOSTLES CREED - Jesus was Born of a Virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, Dead and Buried, Third Day Rose again, now seated on the Right Hand of the Father
• This understanding alone should bring all Churches under the Umbrella of UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
In keeping in line with your Theme, I believe the text references unity as it relates to the body of Christ. If we have no unity within the body of Christ – it is futile to attempt to bring Unity with the local community in which we live. There can be no Unity outside the four walls of the Church if firstly we find no Unity within the body of Christ.
When the bible talks about unity, it is always referring to being unified in Christ. In this text for examination, Paul was writing in another contentious time when he penned his letter to the Corinthians. He’s concerned with POLITICS — CHURCH POLITICS or what we would call POLITY — and Paul recognizes he has his hands full.
• Different factions are forming and aligning with each other
• They’re drawing lines in the sand about who’s following who and the right thing to believe
• The folks in Corinth are following particular preachers and putting that allegiance before their call to follow Christ
• Paul says they’re saying silly things like, “I BELONG TO PAUL” or “I BELONG TO CEPHAS OR APOLLOS”
• Paul is not at all pleased
Christians in Corinth were claiming to be of Paul was better than to be of Apollos and vise-versa.
• They were divided over meaningless things rather than focusing on Christ
• Today false teachers play on people's lack of scriptural knowledge and claim that unity means to accept anything and everything without question
• Anyone who questions a teaching or a practice that is unbiblical is criticized as being divisive
• While unity is important and even essential to be an effective church, it is equally essential to understand what unifies us
The question that should have entered our minds at this point and challenges us to wrestle - IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST TO ATTAIN SUCH HIGH IDEALS OF UNITY?
• In practical terms, would it be possible for the Christian community to come into such harmony that we all “speak the same thing?”
• Such a possibility exists, only if Christians and churches can focus on the common ground of what makes us all Christians and followers of Christ
• Instead of focusing upon what divides us
More than any other factor, the common bond upon which every Christian church is founded is “JESUS CHRIST.” He is the cornerstone upon which every believer bases his trust in eternal things. Above all other things, even above our interpretations and eloquent commentaries, “Jesus” needs to be –
• The objective of preaching and teaching in the church
• He is the object of our Worship
• His is the Purpose of our Service
• He is the meaning of our very Existence
And it’s at the foot of the cross, where every humble believer finds that same common, BLOOD-SOAKED GROUND which brings us together in unity as brothers and sisters in the family of God.
• Jesus said it Himself, that His suffering on the cross was a magnet to the lost
• From that great event He will gather to himself a collected body of followers
• And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me
• When we walk in this understanding we will then experience – UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
Let me remind you Paul is referencing Unity in the Church before we can even begin to think about Unity in the Community in which we live. So, therefore, the next question we must wrestle with must be --
WHY THEN IS THERE SO MUCH DIVISION IN THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH? Can I tell you this is the fault of those -
• Who do not Follow Christ
• Who do not speak according to God's Word
• Who turn away from the truth and listen to the opinions of men
• Who go beyond what is written
• Who do not remain in the doctrine of Christ
Paul addresses the Church and admonished them to SPEAK THE SAME THING. It is at the heart of the gospel that we should seek unity. Even if it were not of any immediate practical advantage, we could not be true to Christ if we were not committed to show in our lives together in the fellowship that hope for unity of all things that was the purpose of Jesus coming into the world.
• The world and the community needs to see our Unity within the four walls of the Church
• We can’t try to bring Unity in our local Community if we can’t get it right in here first
The community sees when the local Church is not operating in HARMONY and UNITY. They know if we are fighting within the Church –
• Don’t like the Pastor
• Don’t like the Deacon’s
• Don’t like the songs the Choir sings
• Matter of fact don’t like the Minister of Music
• Don’t like the Associate Ministers
• Matter of fact, if you are not part of my family I don’t like you
The community know more about what is going on the local Church than most of the members who attend Sunday after Sunday. The testimony of a community of believers often hangs on the ability of its members to live in harmony and to keep the peace once it is made. Paul appeals to leaders and followers alike to be sensitive to the Spirit’s directives and to become ambassadors for unity.
• The Spirit’s most difficult work in the church is to promote harmony among its members
• EPHESIANS 4:3 The art of "KEEPING THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE"
• This requires believers who are characterized by HUMILITY - PERSISTENCE - AND A PASSION FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST
• We give God honor when we pursue harmony and pursue UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
Sadly, we as human beings are our biggest obstacles when it comes to practicing the spiritual art of harmony.
• Sometimes it seems as though the church would be a great place if we could get rid of the people!
• But how do we do church without people?
• How do we get everyone to love or even tolerate one another?
• How do we bring the Baptist and the Episcopalian together?
• How do we bring the Methodist and the Presbyterian?
• How do we bring the Lutheran and the Catholic?
• And how do we achieve harmony beyond the wall of the church in all - CREEDS - CLASSES - and GROUPINGS of people?
• Between Jews and Arabs
• Between Men and Women?
• African-Americans and Caucasians?
• How do we respect each other’s traditions and cultures without reacting defensively and adopting a segregating mind-set instead of an inclusionary one?
• If there is to be Unity, we must work at it diligently
As I travel around the country, I am often puzzled over why some local Churches around the country were growing and prosperous, with new people joining from the local community, while others were in decline with practically no new members. I discovered when I learned of some of the local history that wherever there had been serious strife or division in the local church, even if it was as much as 50 years earlier, the congregation had declined and still had great difficulty in recruiting new members. It was not just that it was ineffective because people did not co-operate very well, but more, it seemed to me, because it had been giving the wrong message to the community.
• It was a problem with their witness to the gospel
• So we need to avoid divisions, not only because like any organization the Church needs to be united in a common purpose to be effective, but because, even more importantly, our message is about unity in the human family
• It is about how we can all become children of God and therefore brothers and sisters
I firmly believe that unity is possible and “Unity in the Community” is indeed possible “IF” Jesus is fully committed to be our common denominator.
• Jesus must be the focal point — more than our variety of opinions and more than our celebrated traditions
• We need to lift Him up above all things and speak the language that Jesus spoke — the language of God’s love
• Speak lovingly and kindly of those who attend other churches — they are your family too
• Cease striving, or competing against Christians of other congregations and those within your own congregation
• LOVE – FORGIVE - TRUST - UPLIFT one another in the vast reservoir of God love
Genuine love for our other brothers and sisters brings an image of “CREDIBILITY” to the church. Jesus said the world would identify His followers by Love for each other. ST. JOHN 13:35 “BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.”
• We should not have a difficult time loving one another
• We should not have a difficult time loving those that go to Church with us
• We should not have a difficult time loving those that despitefully use and persecute us
• Unity begins with LOVE
• Those on the outside of the Church will know we are for real for the Lord when they are able to see and feel the love we have for one another
• That is the only place where Unity can begin
SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR ABOUT THE CHURCH’S MISSION. Some of its highest goals include –
• Sharing the Gospel with all nations
• Caring for those in need
• Worshiping together
• Loving, encouraging, and admonishing one another in God’s truth
• None of these is fully possible if a church is divided
As I hurry to a close this afternoon, if there is to be UNITY and HARMONY in the church there must be a humble willingness to associate with everyone, not just one’s family and friends; there must be patience and a willingness to lovingly tolerate people’s -- Quirks - Idiosyncrasies - Opinions - Perspectives.
• Every one of us is unique and distinctive
• We must not think that everyone has to be like me or that my way is the only way
THE CHURCH CANNOT FUNCTION APART FROM UNITY. Consider a TUNING FORK.
• It delivers a true pitch by two tines vibrating together
• Muffle either side, even a little, and the note disappears
• Neither tine individually produces the pure note
• Only when both tines vibrate is the correct pitch heard
• Unity is not a matter of give and take and compromise to make each other happy or satisfied
• Instead, unity comes through a shared mission and purpose
• If we wholeheartedly pursue together the values of God-honoring worship, open and real fellowship, and a concern for outreach, then we will experience unity
Both in the singular congregation and in the overall body of Christ, GOD’S BLESSING RESIDES UPON LOVE AND UNITY.
--The psalmist declared that unity is associated with His anointing — a symbolic application of oil, representing His Holy Spirit in PSALM 133:1-2
--“BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY! IT IS LIKE THE PRECIOUS OIL UPON THE HEAD, RUNNING DOWN ON THE BEARD, THE BEARD OF AARON, RUNNING DOWN ON THE EDGE OF HIS GARMENTS”
--If there was ever a time that the church needs God’s anointing, it is today
--And if we hope to embrace that anointed blessing, let each of us strive to make our contribution to the unity of the body of Christ
--For lost Sinners to be saved - we must have Unity
--For the local Church to be effective – we must have Unity
--For the local Church to continue to grow – we must have Unity
--To make a positive difference in this world – we must have Unity
