THE URGENCY OF UNITY AMONG THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST



Because of division the churches of Christ are hindered from carrying out the great
commission as we ought. The Lord prayed, "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" (John 17:20-21).

There are at this present time 7 billion souls with whom we share this planet and the Lord Jesus
gave a command that called for world saturation with His message even to the end
of the gospel age (Matt. 28:19-20), which message declares that He is the only (the
exclusive) way to eternal life with the Father (John 14:6). Note how Mark records
this order, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned"
(Mark 16:15-16).

Yet, division among us limits our power to carry out the great commission given
to us until the end of the world; this commission was not given to Catholics, Mormons,
"Jehovah's Witnesses" or similar denominations. Jesus tied unity among His disciples
to the world knowing that the Father had sent Him. Unity can be accomplished by
holding to the simplicity (See 2 Cor. 11:3) of the gospel; that is by holding to
what is written. The apostle Paul made this clear in his writings to the Corinthians,
who were also plagued with division (1 Cor. 1:10-12); as he wrote, "Now these things,
brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes,
that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may
be puffed up on behalf of one against the other" (1 Cor. 4:6). As will be noted
Paul by this inspired statement affirmed that he, even as an apostle, was bound
by what was written. We cannot be united on opinions or human doctrines (Matt. 15:9).

Yet, it seems that today there are some preachers, elders and churches that want
to do as they did in the time of the judges, "In those days .... everyone did what
was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6).

When we simply indulge ourselves with the complete word of God, not going to the right or to the left but standing firm for the sole truth. Let me code a thought from a brother's web:

If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, He learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, He learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice. If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world.

I could add: if a child lives with godly parents, he learns about God; if a child lives with Christian love, he learns to put others first; if a child lives in fellowship with others, he learns their ways, whether good or bad. ‘Evil companions corrupt good mortals.’

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