Ephesians 4:2-6
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.’
Unity is a big deal to God. This doesn’t mean Jesus didn’t ruffle feathers. He had a salvation mission. An entire system was to be changed. He ignored Rome (the governing powers of the world) and confronted the religious system that had gone astray from the true spirit of the message. There is a place for confronting. However, the norm is to be unity in peace. Jesus fought for it.
There is to be doctrinal unity. This is addressed with the list: “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all”. This list hints at the trinity, the solitary message of the gospel, baptism, etc.
Within the topic of doctrine there can be variance. For example, baptism isn’t optional, but how it’s done is open to interpretation. When heresies crept into the church, they would meet for a council. From these, they created creeds. We are to choose the church that we feel is the most biblical. If we are always complaining about how things are done, maybe we are in the wrong church. Keep in mind there will be no perfect church. We are to choose one for ourselves and our family (Hebrews 10:25).
Within the topic of doctrine there can be variance. For example, baptism isn’t optional, but how it’s done is open to interpretation. When heresies crept into the church, they would meet for a council. From these, they created creeds. We are to choose the church that we feel is the most biblical. If we are always complaining about how things are done, maybe we are in the wrong church. Keep in mind there will be no perfect church. We are to choose one for ourselves and our family (Hebrews 10:25).
We need to be careful that we aren’t contrary in nature. Some people are always critical. This is annoying. It can get to a dangerous level. Church splits are often done for egotistical reasons. Paul spoke of some bad guys in the Old Testament. He addressed them in 2 Timothy 3:8,9 “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.”
Our daily manner of dealing with others is to be in unity and peace. The initial sentence tells us how: “with all humility and gentleness with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.” It’s easy to be irritable. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. ” If we are struggling with being cranky and critical, we are getting low on love. James 4:8a says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Get in His Word, hang our with other believers and pray. He will fill you and take the edge off. Much like Scrooge was transformed, He wants to fill us as well.
Lord, help us to be those that aren’t critical, but accepting and warm. Fill us with Your love and help us to keep the unity You desire.