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Foundations of Faith
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Lesson 25: The Basis of Christian Unity

The Psalmist of old sang, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1.) Never has there been greater need for unity than today. Religious confusion abounds and the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17 is not evident.

The solution to religious division is difficult. What has been centuries in the making cannot be easily wiped out. Yet, who dares to suggest that the prayer of our Savior cannot become a reality?

THE CAUSES OF DIVISION. Before a positive basis of unity can be established, the causes of division must be removed. Consider some of them. First, ignorance of God's word contributes to division. Many years ago the Prophet wrote, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6.) Today, nearly every home has a Bible, but too seldom is it read. General ignorance of the scriptures makes the common man the prey of teachers who promote false doctrines and sow the seeds of discord. Many cannot distinguish between truth and error because they do not know what the Bible teaches.

A second cause of division is the tendency to follow men rather than God. Paul admonished the Corinthians to follow him only as he followed Christ. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1.) While we cannot get along without leaders and teachers, we should not follow them blindly. Jesus declares, "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matt. 15:14.) Some are even taught to allow their pastors to do their religious thinking. It is argued that the Bible is too difficult for the common man to understand. This is not true. Paul speaks of "the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3.) The gospel of Christ is so simple that it produced a unified body of Christians 1900 years ago, even though most of these people were relatively uneducated. Certainly we should be capable of understanding the inspired words of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow religious teachers only to the degree that their teachings coincide with the scriptures.

Underlying most religious divisions are the doctrines of men. Division comes from a lack of agreement in things taught. Of two opposing teachings both cannot be completely right. And since we are to "hold fast the form of sound words" (2 Tim. 1:13), we dare not compromise with false teaching. Division, resulting from a conflict of truth and error, is actually caused by human doctrines which have produced the error.

Human creeds and confessions of faith are yet another factor in religious division. They are the embodiment of the doctrines of men. Of course, not everything taught in creeds is wrong, but that creeds contain much error is evident when we observe that no two are alike and that most of them are contradictory. Human creeds crystalize false doctrines and stand as a barrier to religious unity. No denomination will accept the creed of another without alteration. But if each religious body would surrender its creed and unite with Christ upon the one source of authority recognized by all, the Bible, a great stride toward unity would be made.

Denominational names also contribute to division. Initially most such names were used to distinguish one sect from another. To some these names have become so sacred that they are held in higher esteem than the name Christian. No single denominational title will ever be accepted by all striving to follow Christ. If unity is ever to be achieved, these names must be abandoned.

Finally, religious division is caused by denominational organizations. This has already been suggested by the mention of denominational creeds and names. Not only are the creeds and names obstacles to Christian unity, but the religious structures of which they are a part are also a barrier. Some have suggested that all denominations might combine into a super denomination, with each body maintaining its distinctive creed and name. This would effect union, but not unity. Unity implies likeness of thinking and action which would not be true with the above plan. The fact remains that true unity can never be attained until the entire denominational system has been surrendered.

THE PLAN--UNITE WITH CHRIST. The mere removal of the causes of division will not produce unity. A positive basis of agreement must be found to replace the present system. Many unity efforts have failed because they sought to unite man with one another Instead of uniting them first with Christ. Jesus is our common denominator. We may never completely agree with each other, but we should be able to agree with the Savior.

To unite with Jesus is to make him Lord of our lives. This, in truth, implies complete acceptance of his absolute authority. He himself declared, "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth." (Matt. 28:18 -- A.S.V.) With the words, "Go ye therefore...," Jesus then delegated that authority to his apostles. Their teachings, as well as those of Jesus himself, are found in the inspired New Testament books. Therefore, to unite with Christ we must accept the complete and sole authority of the New Testament writings. All who believe that the Bible is divinely inspired recognize that the New Testament is authoritative. We can agree that the things written therein are truth. While we may not agree upon every minor interpretation, so long as we will speak in the words of inspiration and leave our own opinions out, we may find common ground in the word of God.

Acceptance of the authority of the New Testament, in turn, implies that we will strive to duplicate the pattern of the apostolic Christianity revealed in those twenty-seven books. Paul presents the platform for unity when he declares, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forebearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:1-6.) Here are seven things upon which we may unite. Underlying them all, Paul declares, is love. Regardless of how much agreement we may find on doctrinal points, there can never be true unity unless there is love to make us want to be one.

We have little difficulty in agreeing that there is but one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, and one God. Even in its present divided state the religious world largely accepts these truths. But this same passage also teaches that there is but one body, one faith, and one baptism. Since we are informed in Colossians 1:18 that the body is the church, we must agree that there is but one church, that undenominational body belonging to Jesus Christ. We must recognize that since there is but one faith, it does make a difference what we believe and teach. Only that faith based on God's word is acceptable. We must also acknowledge that there is but one baptism. Since that baptism is described in the New Testament as being immersion in water, only in accepting that form may we unite with Christ and hence with one another.

Unity of the faith cannot be accomplished without our seeking to duplicate the church of the first century. To do this we must teach the way of salvation taught by the apostles, showing that when penitent believers are immersed into Christ they reach his atoning blood which washes away their sins. We must duplicate the congregational organization of the early church which was free of any hierarchy and which acknowledged Jesus as its only head. We must worship as did the primitive Christians -- in spirit and in truth. (The organization and worship of the church will be discussed further in succeeding lessons.) We must perform the same work performed by the primitive church -- that of serving man and saving him from sin. We must wear the name Christian, without denominational prefix or suffix, as did the first century disciples, being in truth undenominational Christions. We must recapture the spirit of Christian commitment evident among the early disciples. And we must conduct our personal lives in such a way as to reflect the glory of Christ and cause our fellow men to recognize us as a people called out of the world of sin. When we have done these things we will be one with Christ, and united with all who have united with him.

IF THE WORLD DOES NOT UNITE. The above plan for unity may seem unattainable. Certainly, it is unlikely that all will agree to accept the authority of Christ as revealed in the New Testament, even though most might do so. However, this need not prevent individual disciples and congregations from uniting with Christ. To the degree that we are one with Christ, we have contributed to unity. If a congregation duplicates in teaching and practice the pattern of the early church, it is helping to promote the unity for which Jesus prayed. But when that congregation departs from the primitive pattern it is contributing to religious division.

And what of the individual? How may he promote the cause of unity? Certainly he cannot do so while engaging in those things and being a part of those organizations which cause division. Neither can he do so by separating himself from a congregation of fellow Christians. He should search out a group of simple New Testament Christians who practice the things revealed in the Holy Word and who are content to be undenominational disciples of Christ. He should not rest until he has found such a congregation. When he has found it, he should labor with his fellow heirs of life eternal to make Christian unity a reality for others.

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

List six causes of religious division:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Fill in the blanks after reading three passages that discuss some of the unities studied in this lesson -- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; 1 Corinthians 12:11-14:

Though there are many that are called gods, to us there is but one ________ the Father, and one ________ Jesus Christ. He is our peace and has broken down the middle wall of partition between the Jews and Gentiles and has made one new ________ of them. They have been reconciled to God in one ________ by the cross. Through him we have access in one ________ to the Father. As the ________ is one, so also is Christ. We are baptized by one ________ into one ________. We have been made to drink into one ________. However, the body is not one ________, but many.

Circle the correct letter:

1. Paul told the Corinthians to:
(a) follow him;
(b) follow Christ;
(c) follow him as he followed Christ.
2. When error is taught we should:
(a) hold to the truth;
(b) compromise with false teaching;
(c) ignore the error.
3. A combination of all denominations with each retaining its distinctive name and creeds would produce:
(a) unity;
(b) union;
(c) perfect harmony.
4. To unite religiously it is first necessary to:
(a) agree to disagree;
(b) form a new denomination;
(c) unite with Christ.
5. If we unite with Christ we will also:
(a) adopt creeds to explain his teachings;
(b) accept his absolute authority as revealed in the New Testament;
(c) insist that others accept our opinions.
6. The religious world largely agrees that there is:
(a) one God;
(b) one faith;
(c) one baptism.
7. The one baptism taught in the New Testatment is accomplished in:
(a) sprinkling;
(b) pouring;
(c) immersion.
8. To unite in faith it is necessary to:
(a) ignore our differences;
(b) duplicate the pattern of the early church;
(c) promote denominational cooperation.
9. An individual may promote religious unity by:
(a) engaging in denominational activities;
(b) separating himself from other Christians;
(c) worshipping with a congregation of undenominational Christians.

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