Yesterday we began to examine the characteristics Jesus wants to see produced in the church. These are the qualities He purchased with His own blood. Jesus died on the cross to produce a church that serves.
Today, we see that He purchased with His blood a united church.
In Ephesians 4:12-13, we see that as the fivefold ministry prepares “God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God...”
Both the leaders and those within the body of the church are responsible to protect and nurture the unity of the body. This involves all parts working together, both being served by and serving the other parts of the body, much as each cell of a human body both receives and gives.
When a part of the human body stops cooperating with the rest of the body, cancer is the result. Cancer consumes and destroys.
When a part of the body of Christ stops working with the rest of the body of Christ, spiritual cancer is the result. Division. Discord. Destructive behavior.
The whole body suffers.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV). 1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
When division creeps into a church or a movement, it is evidence that many involved are not aligned with God’s purposes and plan. It is evidence that we are not allowing God’s Spirit to lead us. Quarreling and jealousy drive us to one inescapable truth:
We are carnal.
Jealousy. Quarreling. Bickering. Notice this verse isn’t describing theological issues. It’s about personalities. Most division in churches comes not from issues of eternal significance, but rather because this one hurt that one’s feelings, or this one does like that one being on stage, or this one wants that one to behave differently, or this one thinks that one should not be in that position.
Oh, boo hoo. Selfishness. Childishness. Do you need your paci?
Jesus died for more than this.
Here is the heart of the issue. James 4:1-3 tells us that quarrels come from selfish desires. Two or more people each trying to get his or her own way.
James also implores us to control our tongue. Isn’t that where we get into trouble? Proverbs 15:28 (NLT) “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.”
We must stop reacting and start proacting. We must guard the unity of the church, because unity provides the atmosphere in which God can do miracles!
