Church Unity

Ephesians 4:1-7

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Wow, it seems pretty clear that the Church is told to be unified and of one body. Does over 45,000+ Christian denominations seem like we are a “unified” body? Are all these denominations keeping the “unity of the Spirit”? I would find it hard to say yes to either one of these questions. The sad reality is that the church is not unified. The current state of the church is full of sin and corruption. Differing perspectives of doctrines, emotions, greed, hate, jealousy have all seeped their way into the church and corrupted it from within. These are the very things that have contributed to the church separating into denominations.

We are called to be of one mind and belief. Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” The church can not be unified when there are multiple denominations preaching different gospels and doctrines. Christianity has become a faith of confusion to those on the outside, and to some who would claim to be believers. Church (A) will say one thing, and Church (B), (C), and (D) down the road will all have something different to say. Tell me where that is unity and of one mind. The church has given into the fragile emotions of man. Man’s knowledge and perspective have dictated the teachings of the church. Disputes among men about scripture and doctrine have led to the separation within the body.

Do you believe these denominations are preaching the truth? How can you with so many telling a different story? Sure, they may say what you want to hear and it may sound inclusive and kind. They will tell you about THEIR Jesus, and tell you what they teach to be saved. Maybe they are right and you will become saved, but will you stay saved? Will they tell you enough to get saved, just to turn around and lose salvation forever?

1 Timothy 6:3-5

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Galatians 1:6-9

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Now this concept goes back to other podcasts and blogs that we have done. Does changing one word matter if the message is close to the same? Yes, it does. Would that change be considered a changing of the gospel or doctrine? Yes, it would. The Bible is God’s Word, we must keep our perspective and emotion from letting us misuse or misread his Word. Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). If you are going to a church of (insert denomination), then you are not following the Bible. There is one Church, and last time I checked; there are no denominations that were recorded in the Bible. I urge you to look at your church’s articles of faith. Test them to scripture, and test what the pastor says in his sermons. It must line up with scripture, no ifs, ands, or buts. Mark 7:6-7, “6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”