Unity
Unity requires sacrifice to be realized. It's not easily obtained and must remain on the forefront of every thought and action. It's the culmination of learning to love like Jesus did as his own reflection of God. Going the second mile, as Jesus' taught in the sermon on the mount, is that love translated into action. Sacrificial love is the command of Jesus and unity is the fruit of that love. He gave his life for us and expects the same from us as we love others as the fulfillment of that call.
Most today call for freedom and not sacrifice. They put into place the practices that they desire, not seeking the good of all but rather creating paradigms of their choice, excluding those who think differently. Then, once their practices are firmly in place, they call for "unity in diversity." This concept only calls for others to accept differences or be tolerant of differences. It has no relationship to sacrifice but flaunts differences as good. Of course, they want others to accept their practices even if those brothers are offended and think that those who do not practice their "freedom" as the weaker brother. They ignore the call of Jesus to sacrifice and the call of Paul to refrain from practices, even if their conscience allows it, that will cause a brother to stumble. Paul himself, gave up many things that he was free to do in order to further the kingdom. He would never have praised the attitude of "we won't let anyone tell us what to do." This attitude stems from arrogance and not from love.
John 17:20 - 23 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
1 Cor. 1:7 - 10 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Wouldn't it be something Christ-like if a group calling themselves Christians actually decided to give up a practice that they had adopted in their "freedom" to be unified with others who were offended by that practice? Our freedom could then be seen, rightfully, as freedom to serve others and freedom from the sin of selfishness and the sinful desires that create practices that divide. Freedom to live a life of sacrifice like Jesus would glorify God. When was the last time you heard of such an attitude? What practice is so important to your freedom that you would not give it up for unity? Sadly, the call of freedom to practice today is Satan's tool of division. It's the same call he made to Adam and Eve in the garden. Freedom to make your own decisions regardless of God's call. Jesus rejected the same call from Satan and chose to do the will of God. Isn't that our call?
Don Campbell
Flower Mound, TX
Most today call for freedom and not sacrifice. They put into place the practices that they desire, not seeking the good of all but rather creating paradigms of their choice, excluding those who think differently. Then, once their practices are firmly in place, they call for "unity in diversity." This concept only calls for others to accept differences or be tolerant of differences. It has no relationship to sacrifice but flaunts differences as good. Of course, they want others to accept their practices even if those brothers are offended and think that those who do not practice their "freedom" as the weaker brother. They ignore the call of Jesus to sacrifice and the call of Paul to refrain from practices, even if their conscience allows it, that will cause a brother to stumble. Paul himself, gave up many things that he was free to do in order to further the kingdom. He would never have praised the attitude of "we won't let anyone tell us what to do." This attitude stems from arrogance and not from love.
John 17:20 - 23 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
1 Cor. 1:7 - 10 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Wouldn't it be something Christ-like if a group calling themselves Christians actually decided to give up a practice that they had adopted in their "freedom" to be unified with others who were offended by that practice? Our freedom could then be seen, rightfully, as freedom to serve others and freedom from the sin of selfishness and the sinful desires that create practices that divide. Freedom to live a life of sacrifice like Jesus would glorify God. When was the last time you heard of such an attitude? What practice is so important to your freedom that you would not give it up for unity? Sadly, the call of freedom to practice today is Satan's tool of division. It's the same call he made to Adam and Eve in the garden. Freedom to make your own decisions regardless of God's call. Jesus rejected the same call from Satan and chose to do the will of God. Isn't that our call?
Don Campbell
Flower Mound, TX
posted by Don Campbell at
11:19 AM
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