At the beginning of 2019 we took on a different approach to finishing both our series on Church Growth, or lack thereof, and the Study of the Book of Proverbs. Instead of alternating weekly between two subjects, as we have in the past, we are proceeding this year by carrying one subject to completion and then next to completion. Please be assured we will finish each subject, Church Growth and Proverbs. We will wrap up the series, “Why My Church is NOT Growing” with the last two postings focused on disunity within the Body of Christ. 

Why My Church is NOT Growing – Part 21 – Disunity

"a healthy perspective overlooks a multitude of "unresolvables" – Dr. James Dobson

Disunity, the lack of agreement or harmony, dissension, is found across the Body of Christ. No denomination, culture, race, social class, or region is excluded from this cancer, which is eating away at the heart of Christianity. What is the disunity all for in the end if we find we are all in heaven together worshipping at the feet of Jesus?

Once we have cleared the hurtles of the Deity of Christ, as found in the truth of His virgin birth, that salvation is through Jesus alone and no other, and that God’s Word, the Bible, is in fact His literal and definitive Word, why would there be any need for division. Nothing outside of those three things will effect a person’s salvation, eternal standing, or qualification within the Body of Christ as a brother or sister. Nevertheless, we have allowed the disagreements about biblical principles that we deem important or a larger priority to drive a wedge between our group and another group, both of which are part of the Body of Christ. With this, I have no doubt God is not pleased and not pleased at all. This is an act we justify, but in truth, we have no biblical justification for before God.

The Body of Christ, individuals, families, marriages, homes, business, government, and our country have suffered due to the lack of unity within the Body of Christ. Separation of church and state in the spiritual realm is a myth and would, nor will, ever be possible. The entire structure of society and life is based upon biblical principles. God has never and will never allow Himself to be left out of the sphere of His creation. The idea that He just dropped us here and left us to our own devices is simply not His way. Yes, He did give us freewill but that is very different from Him acting with apathy and indifference toward His creation.

The Body of Christ is knowingly and willingly hurting itself, its country, and each of its members by continuing in disunity.

Psalm 133 (NKJV)

Psalm 133

Blessed Unity of the People of God

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

² It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

³ It is like the dew of Hermon,

Descending upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.

The Body of Christ suffers from a lack of anointing when they are in disunity. Without that anointing, they lack the spiritual power needed to do God’s kingdom work in on earth. That lack of spiritual power leads Christians to the deterioration of themselves as individuals first, then their homes, then their congregations, then the Body of Christ, and finally their society and country. Without the anointing of God, we continually lose ground until the enemy has trampled us.

There is a way out of such a state however, and that way is to repent of our disunity and reclaim our unity. This has always been God’s heart and desire for us as His Church.

Ephesians 4:1–16 (NKJV)

Walk in Unity

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Spiritual Gifts

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men.”

⁹ (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

To walk in disunity is to dishonor God. We are called as Christians to walk worthy of the name. Walking worthy of the name “Christian” means to be humble, gentle, patient, loving, peaceful, and in so doing we exhibit the greatest form of love for one another by keeping unity within the Body of Christ. If we refuse to do this, we refuse to honor God and to obey His Word.

Even though we have chosen to identify ourselves with hundreds upon hundreds of denominations there is but one Church, one Body of Christ. The Scripture above from the book of Ephesians makes this truth clear. There is only one Body, one Spirit, one Lord Jesus our Savior, one faith, let me repeat that – one faith, one baptism, one God and Father; there is only One. How is it possible to be divided when there is only One!

The problem with disunity seems to be found in the fact that we are different. We can be one, we can be unified, and we can be godly and still be different. God created us differently, gave us different gifts, gave us different passions, and chose us for different purposes; none of which He wanted to be used as an excuse or reason to bring disunity to His Body.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.