A personal responsibility to Unity
Notes
Transcript
Last year on the Sunday after Easter I published a message entitled Easter is over – so what!
A deliberately provocative title, as the purpose of the message was in fact to point out that although the bank holiday weekend was over, the chocolate eggs demolished and the roast lamb but a distant and delicious memory the impact of the cross and the resurrection go on.
I found myself on the receiving end of an online comment that my message was Rubbish and in fact Easter was not over but lasts for 40 days. Now anyone who knows me well will know that I like a good argument, I mean robust discussion. It was clear that this person had not watched the message, had no idea what the thrust of it was about and had simply reacted to the deliberately provocative message. Game on – time to put them straight.
The Holy Spirit is amazing. Now I don’t know what your relationship is with the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that
The Holy Spirit teaches. John 14:26
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
The Holy Spirit leads. Rom. 8:14
14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
And the Holy Spirit Corrects 2 Tim 3:16
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
Now, I am sure that when the Holy Spirit teaches, leads and corrects for many of you it is with that famous ‘ still, small voice’. But you know God knows me, He knows my character, my flaws and how to get through this thick skull of mine.
That I why I think when the Holy Spirit teaches me he is one of those teachers that you didn’t really like as a kid but, respect and are thankful for now you are an adult. When he leads he tends to do that by the scruff of my neck and when he corrects is sometimes necessary for the Holy Spirit to have sharp elbows to give me that dig in the ribs to stop me in my tracks.
I am so grateful that God knows me so well and engages with me as an individual. I am so glad that he knows each of you and want’s to treat you as the unique creation that he ordained and knew before you were formed in your mother’s womb.
There I was poised at the keyboard all set to be the be the Holy keyboard warrior.
When – ‘dig in the ribs’ - this is a public forum everyone will see two believers in Christ attacking each other.
Phil. 1:27-30. says
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
What I was about to do failed that Philippians 1:27 test.
What I was wanting to do was not worthy of the gospel, what really felt like typing was not going to allow me and this other person in Christ to stand together as one for the faith.
The number of people that followed Jesus during his life time varied. The number would build up as Jesus told stories and miracles happened and the number would drop as people started to understand those stories or where directly challenged and realised that they were being asked to take personal responsibility and have personal accountability for the way they lived, for the way they approached God.
A diminishing number.
A diminishing number.
Followers abandoned Jesus when the people didn’t like the teaching John 6:66
66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.
It swelled to 1000’s on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, and yet only a few women and disciples remained post the crucifixion having seen what the hands of man had done their promised Messiah. On the night of his betrayal, even his disciples fled from him. And Peter himself denied the Lord three times. From an outsider’s perspective, the Jesus movement looked like a failure. Jesus died a criminal’s death and his followers fled.
In the days and weeks following the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many if not all of the disciples returned, the apostle Paul seem to count the number of believers as being in the region of 500, scattered across the area. 1 Cor. 15:6 tells us that Jesus appeared to over 500 believers post resurrection. It is not inconceivable that this was not all of the direct believers. This was no one time appearance either it says Jesus taught the disciples for 40 days, the number of disciples though was small.
Yet fifty days after the death of Jesus about 3000 were added to the church on the day of Pentecost. ( we’ll get to that later in the year)
Sometimes we conceive the earliest church as a fine-tuned machine. Yet it started with strife. The first decade evinced astounding growth which brought along internal conflict and external persecution.
During the first few years after Jesus ascended into heaven, Christianity mainly existed in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. But just as its legs got under its body, persecution came. And the still small church fled across the country. They scattered. And the idea of a Sunday service at the local church building was not even the radar.
Saul and presumably others were “ravaging the church,” going door to door to find traitorous Jews who had given up Moses and embraced Jesus. ** what a great title, I may get some t-shirts printed “Traitorous Jew on the front - Join the way on the back.
The early church faced Famine, persecution, and internal schism between those of Jewish heritage and those with a gentile background.
The first twenty years of Christianity can be summed up by two themes: explosive growth and continual conflict. Set in a context of a series of world events, that served to hinder the church or actively try to close it down.
There is no such thing an idyllic pristine early Church. What we find is a fugitive church that experiences attacks, murders, famine, and heresy. We find a church marred by internal conflict and schism.
And yet the single prayer of Jesus for the church that we find in Scripture is one of unity.
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
Jesus knew that the world, and the enemy would be enough of an issue without infighting.
A personal responsibility to Unity
A personal responsibility to Unity
You may remember from earlier that I spoke about the way that people followed Jesus and then abandoned him when they realised that they had to be part of the movement, to take responsibility and not to just drift along.
I am hoping that I am not about to see a rush for the doors as I want to touch on our personal responsibility to unity.
Attitude.
Attitude.
We have a personal responsibility to unity.
1. A responsibility to Apply the Philippians 1:27 test. -
2. a personal responsibility to Amend our behaviour to imitate Christ’s humility
Imitating Christ’s Humility
Philippians 2:1-11
1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Each of us is called to imitate Christs Humility in our relationship with one another we are to have the same attitude as Christ.
So let me ask you How is your attitude?
Does it always show humility?
Let’s not misunderstand that word. It is not weakness, It is not rolling over just to keep the peace. In fact we are called to be peace makers not peace keepers. Humility is understanding where our pride, our arrogance starts to get in the way of living out the values of Christ. - If any one is without pride give yourself a big pat on the back.
When our pride steps in this is the most damaging thing to any relationship yet alone the unity that is between believers and between churches.
Why was I so set on putting the person straight who had commented on the message of twelve months ago?
Was it because they were wrong that Easter is for 40 days. – well, no, in the CofE calendar and other traditions it does.
Was it because this comment was of huge doctrinal importance and was likely to stop people coming to faith? – erm No.
Was it that they used the word Rubbish and were commenting with out even hearing the message – No of course… well may be – Ok yes it was.
Lord, yet humility reign.
I am sure many of us have been in situations where we have felt our hackles rise where maybe they shouldn’t and humility should be applied.
We are not however to be downtrodden and defenceless.
Jesus never had a problem tackling people, who had got things wrong. And although Jesus often spoke from the heart He controlled his emotions and responded with what people needed.
Sometimes, we seem to miss that He is the model we should live our lives by
Jesus’ attitude was in control, on time, and always ready with an answer
We are encouraged to be the same.
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
Choose your arguments.
Choose your arguments.
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given and one that I have to remind myself to apply is this.
You don’t have to attend every argument you are invited to.
The early church had its fair share of internal arguments
A schism appears in the early church due to a conflict among Jewish and Gentile Christians this is a reoccurring theme in the early church about how ‘jewish’ you needed to be.. Luke records, “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).
So the leaders of the church called the first ecumenical council. At the council, some argued that one must be circumcised to keep the law of Moses. Peter replies by giving a speech and concludes: “we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:11). In other words, both Jews and Gentiles are saved by grace, not by keeping the law of Moses.
After Peter and Barnabas speak, James the brother of Jesus—likely the leader of the church in Jerusalem—concludes the council meeting. He affirms that Gentiles do not need to keep the law of Moses but commands Gentiles not to offend Jewish believers by abstaining “from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:20).
Thus, the council declares a compromise over certain practices while not compromising on the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that justifies both Jews and Gentiles by faith.
This was an argument the early church did not need to have.
There will always be times in church settings where people do not behave in the way that as individuals we think they should.
It may be the choice of language or topic of conversation that a new believer brings into the church.
It may be the way people act out of tradition or understanding - I remember being challenged by someone because I put my bible on the floor.
Some churches split because the music is changed, the seats are rearranged. A woman preaches, or it is agreed to engage with the community. More often than not when Christians fall out it is over things at the periphery rather than doctrine, or direction.
As individuals we have a personal responsibility to unity that should mean Deception, gossip, slander, rebellion, pride, jealousy, strife have no place. These are arguments that we may be invited to but we do not have to attend. Whether these are within the church with a little c or the Chruch with a big C.
my background is in pentecostal evangelical charismatic churches. Some of the practices of Anglican or methodist or the pentecostal evangelical charismatic church in the next town are alien to me, not my cup of tea maybe even just a little bit weird. but if they love Jesus. If they want to see Gods kingdom come, if they are sold on telling people that they have a path back to God and salvation. I don’t care whether they sing hymns form a 40 year old book and burn incense or if their drummer drowns out everything through prophetic drumming. We need to stay united. Too many christians have wasted time and energy attacking each other over secondary issues and church traditions. Energy that could have been used spreading the gospel, serving the needy
The call to Unity
The call to Unity
Covid has seen churches of all backgrounds and beliefs working together more closely than at any other time in recent history.
The increase of online messages the breadth of christian tradition is encountered more today than ever before.
While we should have no truck with heresy, things that stand in direct opposition to God’s word our core beliefs, in everything else we should apply the pragmatism shown by the early church and the advice of Rupertus Meldenius 1627
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
―
I am really excited by the way we are seeing a range of christians come together.
even here within this church
ask about back grounds
Within assist - churches of all shapes
Within the nation
Justin Welby and Cardinal Nichols - joint statement on - the poorest.
- speak about TKCS.
Unity within the church
Unity within the church
Our personal responsibility to unit is not just between churches or groups of believers it is within our own body. I am not going to dwell on this area as I should not have to but unity, humility and, the Phillipean’s 1:27 test should be applied in our interactions between each other as much as to those outside.
Ending
Ending
Jesus saw unity as important. - he made a specific point about it.
No church rules or agreements make unity a thing We have a personal responsibility to unity. This is a responsibility that we each have Jesus makes this clear...
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
We should remember the Philippians 1:27 test
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
We should pick our argument that matter we are called to rally around Christ and the fundamentals of our faith, not out pet theology, passion or favourite seat in church. In everything we should follow Paul’s advice in Colossians
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Pray