Replies

I also agree with you on this point. I distinguish between diversity and division. God made diversity, and diversity adds beauty and perfection to the Church. But division is ugly. Division is contrary to the heart of Christ.

So, we have to work toward unity (i.e. removing division), but in a way that retains the beauty of our individuality and uniqueness.

And I don't think we can achieve unity without agreeing about authority. The key to unity is the issue of authority. As long as we are divided on authority, we cannot be "perfected in unity" as Christ prays in John 17. St. Paul also says this in 1 Cor 1:10-13, when he rebukes the Corinthians for not being in agreement concerning Church leadership. Some were saying, "I follow Paul', and others, "I follow Apollo", and others, "I follow Cephas", I others, "I follow Christ". Paul sees this disagreement concerning Church leadership, and responds by saying "Is Christ divided?" So Paul sees disagreement about leadership as an unacceptable division in the body of Christ.

-A8

And I don't think we can achieve unity without agreeing about authority.
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Not as it is seemingly construed by the Romans hereon.

I have pondered this unity thing hard and long.

I do not believe God is going to solve it ANY of our expected ways along any organizational or trumped up or jury rigged or man manipulated or man oganized ways. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Yet, Christ will have a unified church.

I think some glimpse at it MAY be observed watching diversities of backgrounds at a Charismatic prayer/worship service.

THERE IS DEEP UNITY OF SPIRIT UNDER THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SPIRIT AND AS BLOOD BROTHERS IN HIS BLOOD.

I think that's the "only" unity that's going to count or be effected and certainly that's going to be effective.

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GOD'A PATTERN . . . GOD'S CHOSEN, ORDAINED PATTERN IS EVIDENT THROUGH SCRIPTURE . . .

The daily walks in the Garden--intimate dialogue.

God tried to set it up again in the wilderness . . . at the Tent of Meeting . . . any individual was invited to come and dialogue with God Almighty . . . they would have none of it.

THEY INSISTED ON AN ORGANIZATION WITH MOSES DOING IT FOR THEM. Thankfully Moses was humble and pure in his role.

The New Testament era arrives . . . Holy Spirit is given to each Believer to indwell and manage the dialogue with God directly individual to God . . . humans flee the opportunity and WANT, DEMAND, ENGINEERE

ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBSTITUTE.

GOD IS SHOWING INCREASING IMPATIENCE AND INTOLERANCE WITH THAT.

Leaders have begun to be disciiplined sternly. Sheep will also in due course.

LEADING SHEEP DEEPER INTO GOD is a leader's duty.

GETTING IN THE WAY BETWEEN SHEEP AND GOD is a leader's cursed downfall.

The Welsh revival is very telling the more I consider it. When individuals started trying to organize it and manage the meetings, God left. God left the meetings to them. The miracles stopped.

This is a matter of the historical record. It happens to match the Biblical pattern.

Thank you for your reply!

On this point we agree. And you used a perfect passage for unity as Christ prayed for us and defined what that unity "is":

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. - John 17:20-23

We are in Christ, Christ is in us. (John 15) We are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3).

And there is only one shepherd and one flock:

I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. - John 10:14-16

We are all of the same body of Christ. The Spiritually mature among us don't recognize the divisions which are so important to many:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? - I Cor 3:1-5

The ones among us who identify themselves with any minister are the ones who are yet carnal, who are yet on milk.

Those of us who are on Spiritual meat must be loving and patient and help the younger Christians understand the meaning of the Lord's prayer, what it is all "about": His name, His will and His kingdom. The rest is details.

My two cents...