Christ made a profound statement rgarding the importance of unity in MARK 3:24-25. Let us stop to examine the context of this statement.
Jesus had just cast-out demons from a fellow. Rather than admit Jesus’ Divine power, the spiritually blind Pharisees were making the claim that Jesus expelled demons by the power of Satan rather than by the power of God.
Christ Jesus states that such an accusation is entirely irrational. Demons are Satan’s loyal subjects and they are sent forth by their evil master to influenced and control individuals. If a person is possessed by demons that means that they are firmly under Satan’s dominion. Why would Satan use his powers to fight against himself? Why would the calculating and belligerent Devil be engaged in anything that would harm his own interests? Satan wants his own kingdom to succeeed and prosper. A kingdom - even Satan’s - if it is divided cannot stand....it will fail and fall.
Jesus’ statement is an universal truth. No household or kingdom can if it is divided. Unity is absoutely essential for the well-being and success of any family and kingdom. Since each of belong to one and, hopefully, both...let’s examine this closer.
I.THE HOME.
The very concept of family carries with it the idea of unity. The family - beginning with the marriage of the husband and wife - is the most basic unit or grouping of individuals in Society. God spoke of marriage in unifying terminology such as "cleaving" and "one flesh".
The unity between the husband and wife is the cornerstone in the foundation of the family’s unity. If they are not united in a bond of mutual love and respect, are not guided by the same basic set of values, are not in agreement on what direction the household or family should strive towards, and do not cooperatively work together to reach common goals and ends...the household or family will crumble.
Whether it be on the family budget or policies on raising the children or determining the spiritual direction of the family, whatever the issue may be... the husband and wife must unite for the well-being of the household. If the husband and wife do not unite and promote unity, it is a pipedream to think that the children will appreciate and see the value of the family bond. They will not accept, without great contention, the premise of contributing to the good of the family or making any personal sacrifices for the sake of family. Thus, unity is thwarted.
When it comes to decision-making within the family, the Scriptures make it clear that the husband or father has the ultimate say. However, the man must acknowledge that he is not omniscient nor act as an arrogant tyrant. The glory of God and the well-being of the family - present and future - must be ends to achieve in all decision-making.
The man cannot presume to know what is best for his wife and family unless he first knows his wife and family. What are their individual and collective needs?
PROVERBS 13:16 says, "Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly."
PROVERBS 18:15 adds, "The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."
To gather knowledge, the man must listen to and observe carefully his family. Decision-making with family input is not only helpful, but oftentimes critical. PROVERBS 13:10, "Through presumption comes nothing but strife (the opposite of unity), but with those who receive counsel is wisdom."
Before moving on, let me add that this responsibility of the man is extraordinary and, at times, overwhelming. The wife and children need to appreciate and show support toward the husband and father that is truly trying to promote the family’s well-being and bond of unity. Unity is dependant on everyone in the family doing their part.
Much more could be said on family unity but I want to move on to the next entity mentioned by our Lord -
2.THE KINGDOM.
The kingdom of God or Church is greatly in need of unity. Christ made it abundantly clear that He wanted His followers to be united: JOHN 17:20-23; 10:16. For teaching purposes, I will have us examine three important ways in which a congregation of the Lord’s Church must be united:
A. In Doctrine and Practice.
In His prayer for unity, Jesus’ alludes to the fact that one way in which unity would be secured is that they all would hear and accept the one sanctifying truth of God - preached by Christ and given to the apostles: JOHN 17:14-21. See also: MATTHEW 28:18-20; HEBREWS 1:1-2; 2:1,3-4. The early believers accepted the apostles’ doctrine as divinely inspired and those doctrines proclaimed by inspired men is the foundation for unity in the Church: 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13; 1 CORINTHIANS 4:17; ACTS 2:41-42; EPHESIANS 2:19-22; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10.
B. In the bond of love and humility.
Knowing and accepting the truth is not enough to preserve ’oneness’ in the Church. Spiritual unity is perfected when believers are united in godly love. This kind of unity is beautiful to behold and experience: PSALM 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!"
Paul states the issue in COLOSSIANS 3:14-15, "put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body." The one body can only remain one body if there is peace and there can be no peace unless there is agape love. What is agape love? It is the commitment to always seek what is best for the other person. There are two passages that I would call to your attention: PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 and EPHESIANS 4:1-3.
C. In purpose.
There is a reason why the Church remains in this world. It has missions. It has work to do on behalf of its Head. One of the most important ways in which a Church can and must remain unified is for its members to have unity of purpose.
Let’s do a quick refresher course on the missions of the Church....
EVANGELISM.
The first and foremost purpose of the Church is to evangelize, take the Gospel to lost souls. We have got to understand that there are many organizations and agencies in this world that can and do feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide company to shut-ins, and even comfort and protect widows and orphans. But in the whole entire world, there is not another organization that can bring the message of Salvation to lost souls than the Lord’s Church. For, claims 1 TIMOTHY 3:15, only the "church of the living God" is "the pillar and support of the truth." It is the Lord’s "eternal purpose", as it is stated in EPHESIANS 3:10-11, "that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church."
Listen to Paul’s admonition to the PHILIPPIAN congregation: 1:27, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel....2:14-16, "Do all things without grumbling and disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life."
Paul reminds Timothy in 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-4, "God our Savior...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." If the Church doesn’t take the Gospel to all men, what or who will? Nobody! No one wants to seduce us away from this work more than Satan. For in preaching the Gospel, the Kingdom of Light clashes most powerfully with the kingdom of Darkness. Every soul saved is another warrior against the Devil.
No other work or mission, regardless of how benevolent or charitable it might be, should get in the way of this most critical of tasks - preaching the Word of Salvation to lost souls. The early Church almost got seduced away from this. See ACTS 6:1-7.
EDIFYING THE BRETHREN.
The second most important task of the Church is to spiritually edify its members. Just because one becomes a Christian doesn’t mean that Satan gives-up on claiming that soul. No, says Peter, "your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
The lion of Africa will find a herd of deer or impalas. Once a herd is found, the lion won’t immediately attack. First, he or she hides nearby and carefully notes the location of the youngest and weakest members of the herd. Then, at an opportune time, the lions bolts forth and chases after those it has identified as the most vulnerable and separates it from the main herd. Then, the solitary prey is easy pickings. Satan does the same with members of the Church. He seeks the immature Christian or those who are, for the moment, vulnerable. Then, he devours.
The Church needs to help young Christians mature and strengthen and protect those who are vulnerable. HEBREWS 3:12-14, "Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ’Today’, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end." 1 THESSALONIANS 5:14, "And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fanthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men."
PERFORMING GOOD DEEDS
In emphasizing the spiritual mission of the Church in evangelizing the world and edification of the Body, I do not wish to imply that the Church does not have any concern or obligation to meet the non-spiritual needs of people. In our passage in ACTS 6:1-7, the apostles did not say they the physical needs of the widows were to be ignored. No, it was wrong for those who have been given the gift of preaching and teaching to be side-tracked in serving the widows when there were others in the congregation who could and should be doing that good work.
1 PETER 4:10, "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
We were redeemed of God to do good deeds, says Paul in TITUS 2:13-14, "Christ Jesus...gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." He further reminded TITUS in 3:14, "Let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful."
And, in HEBREWS 13:16, "Do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased." We must not forget GALATIANS 6:9-10, "Let us not loose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, letus do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
Each of us may have different ministries. The important thing is that the Church is working to fulfill its purposes. We need to unite in supporting the various ministries and pray that each will bear fruit. Each congregation needs to have a work plan taking into consideration the various gifts and talents that God has, in accordance with 12th chapters of both ROMANS and 1 CORINTHIANS, bestowed upon the members of your particular congregation.
