I Corinthians 1:10 – “…the same thing… the same mind… the same judgment.”
I Corinthians 12:4-6 – “…diversities of gifts… differences of administrations… diversities of operations.”
Paul’s first epistle (or at least, the first to which we have access) to the Corinthian church is one of correction and instruction. The Corinthians were much like many Christians with which we are familiar today. Being first place in the gifts of the Spirit, they were last place in spiritual maturity.
The Need for Unity
One area of the Corinthians’ spiritual immaturity was that of unity. This local body of believers had allowed themselves to be split and divided over the pettiest of disagreements. Similarly, today’s Christians, whether belonging to the same assembly or not, lack much in the area of unity.
Let me insert here that no reader of mine is more conscious than I of the fact that Satan is a promoter of unity. The theme of the coming Antichrist will be unity. Revelation 13 is clear regarding Satan’s man – “he causeth all to receive a mark;” “he causeth all to worship the beast.” His mission will be for the world to unite – under his leadership, of course. This biblical truth causes me to be leery of the individual who wishes for a broad unity, seemingly with no regard to whether those uniting are genuine believers or not.
Having said this, I understand that true Christians who have been born again by the word and the Spirit cannot unite with every Tom, Dick, and Harry who carries a Bible under his arm. We need to know that a person is a genuine child of God who upholds the truths of the word of God before we give them the right hand of fellowship. Please understand that I am speaking of the unity of those who are Christians in the biblical sense of the word. I am not talking about Bible-believing churches participating in fellowship with churches that do not teach the biblical definition of marriage; or with churches that deny the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, heaven, or hell; or with churches that teach salvation in something other than Jesus Christ. By “unity,” I am referring to a born again believer uniting with another born again believer.
In spite of the great need for unity, genuine Christians are extremely divided – much more so than we should be. Concerning believers, Christ prayed to His Father, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us (John 17:21).” Paul exhorted the Ephesians to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3).” Unity among believers should be a desire within the bosom of every saved individual. So, why is there so little unity and so many divisions among born again believers? I will put the answer simply; then I will explain it. Here’s the answer in two sentences: “Many individuals have developed a method for achieving unity among believers. This faulty method has become the very reason there is so little unity and so much division among believers.”
Division: the Cause and the Cure
A faulty method for achieving unity has been proposed, and this method itself is the reason for so much division. What is this method that keeps Christians divided?
Some ministers will read I Corinthians 1:10, where three times in one verse Paul uses the word, “same.” Then, they insist that the path to unity is sameness; that is, that everyone should be exactly like them. There is no doubt that we must agree on some things to have unity. But unity is not sameness. In the twelfth chapter of the same epistle, Paul three times states in verses 4-6 that “there are differences,” and “there are diversities.” Unity exists not in absence of differences, but rather in spite of differences. The method of achieving unity by making everyone else just like you is impossible because people are different. Since this method is impossible, it is therefore a precise reason for the lack of unity among Christians today.
While two Bible-believing Christians share the same faith in Christ, the same love for the Bible, the same love for the worship of God, and the same desire to see others come to salvation, there are many things about each of them that may be different than the other. And that's okay! Let us examine a few differences that may exist between two Bible-believing Christians.
DETAILS OF THE SALVATION EXPERIENCE
If two individuals have faith that is deeply rooted in Christ, then both of these individuals are saved. Other than their faith in Christ, the details of their salvation experience may differ. I was saved at the altar in a southern Baptist church. But that is no indication that everyone must be saved at an altar in any church. I know people who are saved just as I am, and yet they did not receive their salvation in a church. I know some who were saved in their home. I know others who were saved in an automobile. I know others who were saved in the parking lot of a restaurant. Some were saved while in a kneeling position; others were saved while standing flat on their feet. The Bible tells of a tax collector who was converted in the temple while smiting his breast. The Bible tells us that when the Philippian jailor was saved, there was an earthquake. The Bible tells of a woman who found living water while sitting on a well. All these experiences are different as far as the details are concerned, but in each instance a sinner found the Saviour! Everybody does not have to have the same exact details in their salvation experience as do you! It would serve some people well if they would stop making the details of their own experience the standard for everyone else.
METHOD OF PRAYER
The true Christian longs to be in the presence of his Master. Whether I like it or not, there are those who are close to God, who may pray differently than I do. Some kneel when they pray. Some sit when they pray. Some lift their hands when they pray. All of these are biblical ways to pray. The Bible gives much instruction regarding prayer. The Bible does not, however, make it mandatory for a person to be a certain physical position while praying. Some people whisper their prayer. Others say nothing audibly. Some weep when they pray. Some pray very vocally with much volume. A few years ago, I heard a Sunday School lesson regarding prayer. The entire lesson could be summed up this way – “If you’re not praying loudly, you’re not praying at all.” This is ignorance on steroids! When I think of praying loudly, a particular group in the Bible comes to mind. When this group prayed, they lifted their voice; they jumped; they yelled; they even cut themselves! Were they Pentecostal Christians? No; in fact, they were prophets of the false god Baal. The Bible furthermore tells about a woman by the name of Hannah who was praying in the temple. Eli, the priest in the temple, watched Hannah as she prayed and was convinced something was wrong. She moved her lips, but no audible words came forth. Eli then accused Hannah of being drunk because she didn’t pray the way he thought she should. Who was right? Who was wrong? I know this much. God answered Hannah’s prayer. I’ve got a message for Eli and everyone like him. Everyone doesn’t have to pray exactly like you!
TO BE CONTINUED…
