What's the purpose of unity if it's not going to happen?

The biggest problem that hinders unity in the church?:
I think a major cause (in the U.S. at least) has been the virtually unchecked growth of the various personality cults that have arisen among conservative Christians. Pride and ego play a big part. To some ministries, it seems to have come down to either being a "big fish in a small pond" or being a "small fish in a big pond". They'd rather have their own rabidly loyal power-base than be a smaller cog in the larger good. IMHO

 

Unity is that mirage that we seek in the desert.
One of my favorite sayings is "Unity is diversity". Unity looks like a body. Most people want unity where everybody looks and acts the same. They want everybody to be a hand or a foot or an eye. But that is not unity. It is a deformity, or abnormality.

Ephesians 4 has a lot to say about unity, but most today in the USA would disagree with Paul in what he says. Unity and maturity comes when we do it the way Jesus wants. You won't have unity without apostles and prophets. And most today in the USA will not tolerate apostles and prophets.

So, in reality, hardly anybody really wants unity, the unity that Jesus wants. When we do it the way Jesus wants, then we will get the results Jesus wants. One of the results is unity.

A key understanding:
Unity is the goal of God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The goal of followers of Jesus is to be obedient to Him.
If we make our goal unity, then we will have neither unity nor obedience.

EPH 4:9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

EPH 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 

MA,
There is a place for heated debate. A forum like this, being anonymous, makes it much easier for more heat than light.

PR 27:17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

The above scripture shows us that sometimes the sparks will fly.

I have heard Piper preach, but never debate, so I will not be able to emulate him.

 

Ever notice those who preach unity, unity, unity are so often the troublemakers. They are those who want conformity. It is doubtful that they really know what unity is.

 

I have believing friends, we meet together because of a unified belief that Jesus is our savior. We believe that Jesus' body was broken and his blood was shed to purchase us and make us righteous. If we were more unified, we might be more effective in this world, but that is something we can work on. Nevertheless, it is a glorious and miraculous thing that we meet with each other like brothers when being religious is not cool. Without our common foundational belief, we would have nothing to do with each other and nothing firm to build on. It's a good start.

I think perfect unity is coming, it's on its way. Like Paul mentions: It is not known what we shall be like...

1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.

Dave

 

I Corinthians 12-14 speaks of unity in diversity. One body but diverse members and gifts.

Uniformity is what many are after. That does bring deformity.

You can tie together the tails of a dog and cat and throw them over a clothes line and have union BUT NOT UNITY!!

Rufus

 

....and these three remain, faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.

Still to me, hope is in that important list, and I do hope for unity.

Dave.

 

I think the point being made (if I may speculate) is that as Christians we can disagree but should do so with compassion, fairness, patience, and humility. Sometimes we do this; on other occasions we don't. There are times when we come perilously close to the sarcasm and cynicism of secular forums (fora?), minus the profanity. I agree that the main goal here should be to learn and inform, not simply to win arguments. I've learned from bitter experience how easy it is to become more interested in asserting one's ego than in helping others to understand.

 

In Eph. 4, Paul gives us 7 reasons why unity exists among Christians. We don't have to make it happen. We just have to preserve it.

 

Great reply!

 

Is that what they do over there in Arkansas, tie cat and dog tails together and flop'em over the clothes line? Must be Arkansas entertainment.

MA </font>[/QUOTE]Yep! Barefooted Arky Hillybillies, we are. Our "entertainment captures the 'world!'"

Rufus