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Peter Wade.
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1. A Walk in Unity (continued) by Ruth Paxson
The Bond of Unity
Three times in this section on unity is love shown to be
the bond:
4:2. "With all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love."
4:15. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
4:16. "Maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love."
We have considered the divisions within the Church over
the basis of unity through doctrinal differences due often
to sincere though misguided zeal. But Paul recognizes
divisions due to a far more needless and sinful reason, -- the
breaking of the bond of unity through lack of love. Let us face the facts frankly and seek the cause of the disgraceful discords between true
believers.
From years of observation and study through personal
contacts in many lands, one is led to believe these discords
are largely due to national and personal prejudices and to
dislikes due to temperamental differences which are not
overcome by divine love. For several years my work has taken
me into several countries in Europe. Much has been heard
about the "mentality" that characterizes each nation,
and it has been intimated that one could not understand this
people or that because of inability to understand their
mentality. That there is a great difference in the national
characteristics of peoples which leads to different ways of
viewing things and to different standards of life one would
grant immediately. But this does not mean that one mentality
is wrong and another right, or even that in all points one
is better than another. It simply means there is a
difference, and for a purpose. God who created each race and
each individual intended it to be so. That this strange,
forbidding thing needs to raise walls as high as the heavens
between fellow members of the Body of Christ, one who has
lived long in Ephesians refuses to grant. One wonders if a
more clarifying word for this troublesome thing is not
racial prejudice and national pride. A medical missionary,
devoted to her work in China, said that after several years
in the land she still found it difficult to sit by a Chinese
at a table or in a train. While travelling on a boat with a
deeply spiritual Chinese Christian, she implored me to sit
next to her at meals so that an equally consecrated Indian
Christian would not occupy that seat, "for," she said,
"I could not eat anything if I had to sit beside an
Indian."
What a bomb our Lord threw at the heart of such sinful
racial and national prejudice in those who through rebirth
share equally the life and privileges of the heavenly
citizenship in Christ!
Colossians 3:11 "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond
nor free; but Christ is all, and in all."
God grant that it may blow every shred of prejudice and pride of race out of everyone of us who are fellow-members of the
one Body. Perhaps some of us will not know how deeply rooted
we are in prejudice until we seek deliverance from it.
Another secret of discord lies in personal temperamental
differences. Through observation and through confidences given in
personal interviews with numberless Christian workers, one
is convinced that the very greatest strain in Christian
work, both at home and on the mission field, is due to these
maladjustments in temperaments with their resultant friction
and tension.
Under one roof, living and working together seven days in
the week, are people of radically different temperaments,
tastes, and training. One is quick and nervous; the other
slow and calm. The former can do a half-day's work while
the other is getting dressed in the morning. One is
socially-minded and enjoys a bit of company sometimes; the
other is solitary-minded and feels no need of anything
outside of herself and her work. One is generous and
openhanded; while the other is thrifty, sometimes perhaps
tight. A fellow-missionary who was housekeeper for our
little company once handed me my monthly bill for -- dollars
-- cents, and 7/l8ths of a cent. Never having been good at
figures, I let her keep the change. One is spontaneous and
outgoing, readily sharing her heart experiences; the other
reticent and unapproachable, never revealing what she really
thinks or feels. One gives herself to prayer and is accused
of laziness; the other becomes a slave to work and is
suspected of ungodliness. One is a replica of the mystical
Mary, and the other of the practical Martha.
God intended these temperamental differences that we
might be complements one of another. Had God meant us all to
be alike, He would have put us into the same mould. Had He
done so what a drab, monotonous world this would have been!
The question we need to ask is, "Can there be unity in
such diversity? How can members of His Body really be made
members one of another?" The Lord answers our question.
Unity in Diversity through the Graces of the Spirit
Unity is not something intangible and indefinite. It is
a spiritual fabric woven out of designated materials which
are interwoven into spiritual relationships. Those materials
are the graces of the Spirit, all of which are included in
the spiritual blessings bequeathed to us in Christ.
Therefore all these graces may be possessed by all saints
alike. Paul mentions several which are essential in keeping
the unity of the Spirit.
4:2. "With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love."
"Lowliness." Someone has defined lowliness as
a "holy humbleness," which would mean negatively a lack
of self-assertiveness and any tendency to pride and
boastfulness. Positively may we not say that it is such a
Scriptural estimate of one's self as Paul had? He was
writing this highest and deepest truth, a revelation given
by God to him and to no other, yet he said, "Unto me, who
am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given."
Paul never forgot what his past life in sin had been, and
delighted to say, "I am what I am by the grace of God."
In Christ by grace he was chief of apostles, but always in
himself by nature he was "the chief of sinners." His
holy humbleness came from remembering always the depths to
which he had gone and the heights to which he had come, and
that it was all due to the grace of God. So there was no
room for high mindedness or boastfulness even in Paul. Much
less will there be in any one of us.
In the epistle to the Philippians Paul shows us that the
source and secret of unity is first in having the mind of
our Lord, and then in having a right mind regarding
ourselves in relationship to others.
| Christ mindedness -- willingness to | { empty
{ humble | Himself.
Phil. 2:5-8. |
| Lowly mindedness -- willingness to esteem others better
than ourselves. Phil. 2:3. |
Like-mindedness }
One-mindedness } | -- having the same love. Phil. 2:2. |
"Meekness" -- our estimate of ourselves in
relationship to God; a fitting complement to lowliness.
Again we have our perfect example in the meek and lowly
Jesus, who in relationship to His Father was "obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross." There was in Him
a whole-hearted acceptance of His Father's will in all
circumstances. Even "when he was reviled, he reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened not." He was called
by the most humiliating names: "Thou art a Samaritan,"
and was even charged with "casting out devils through
Beelzebub, the chief of devils"; yet He patiently endured
all such reviling. This is true meekness, which is the very opposite
of revenge, resentment and retaliation. It is a spirit that
never takes offence even under the severest provocation.
"Longsuffering" -- without irritation or
annoyance, but with patience and endurance, meeting every
harassing trial that comes in fellowship with others.
Longsuffering is an unweariable spirit that is so
strengthened by Christ that it outlasts the blasts of pain
and provocation. Nevertheless, it does not mean long-facedness,
for in Scripture it is almost invariably accompanied with
joy.
"Forbearing one another" -- which Dr. H.A. Ironside
translates "lovingly putting up with all that is disagreeable in other people."
To forbear does not mean that we are blind to the sins and
shortcomings of others, nor to the difficulties which they
produce. But it does mean that we have the love and patience
of Christ in our attitude toward them. When one feels
impatience, which tempts to criticism, it is a check upon
one to put his own life alongside that of the spotless Son
of man and thus see his own immeasurable shortcomings. How
quickly it silences condemnation of others as we think of
the patience the Lord has shown toward us. It is also a very
wholesome antidote to uncharitableness to remember that, if
we find it difficult to live with certain people who have
disagreeable traits, they probably find it just as difficult
to live with us.
In order that the whole Body of Christ may be edified
and made to increase through the united faith and work
of all members in the unity of the Spirit, Paul makes this
great appeal: Be lowly-minded, be meek, be longsuffering,
and forbear in love. Is there one of us who has measured up
to this fourfold divine standard? Must each of us not
confess that we have often failed in each of these divine
characteristics? Are we prepared to-day to take an advance
step in this matter of unity in our relationship to others?
"In love." We hesitate to answer that
question. All of us believe in theory in such practical
unity. We admit Christ prayed for it, and that the Bible
teaches it. But -- ? We think of some person with whom it has
been utterly impossible thus far to live or work without
discord; and we ask, "Is it possible?" Yes, but only in
one way -- "in love," and that the love of Christ
which supersedes all human points of friction. It demands
the loving Christ living out His love-life in us.
The unity that is rooted in truth ripens in love. The
root is God's eternal, unchangeable truth which fructifies
into life through a Spirit-produced humility and a
Spirit-provided love.
Diversity in Unity through the Gifts of Christ
4:7. "But unto every one of us is given grace according
to the measure of the gift of Christ."
"But" -- is always an arresting word. Here it denotes
an abrupt change in thought; in fact, introduces for
consideration the exactly opposite truth of diversity in
unity. Spiritual graces, which are included in the spiritual
blessings of 1:3, are bequeathed equally to all God's
children, but, when it comes to spiritual gifts, we find a
divinely-determined diversity in the divinely-purposed unity
in the Body of Christ.
The Individual Endowment of All Members
The Head of the Body is righteous and fair. Each person
chosen in Him was also created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, so for his particular share in the extension and
edifying of the Body he has been given a suitable and a
sufficient gift.
"Unto every one of us is given." As God has
before ordained just what task each Christian is to have
(2:10), He has set every member in the Body in just the
place He wishes him to occupy (I Corinthians 12:18), and has then
bestowed upon him whatever gift is needed to accomplish his
work effectually. There are no omissions and no exemptions.
Every Christian has some gift, though it may differ both in
kind and in degree from that of another, which is to be used
for the mutual benefit and blessing of all saints.
4:16. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according
to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in
love."
No matter how insignificant, weak or obscure a member of
the Body may feel himself to be, yet he has a part to
perform that is very essential to the spiritual health and
functioning of the Body as a whole.
"The gift of Christ." Christ, the Head of the
Body, in His infinite wisdom and impartial love bestows the
gift upon every member for the glory of God and for the
increase and the building up of the whole Body.
Then should not each of us know what his gift is? Should
he not value it as a precious gift from the Lord Himself?
Should he not be satisfied with his gift because chosen
expressly for him as the one by which he can best glorify
the Lord and fulfil His purpose? Should he not use it
unstintedly for the benefit of the whole Body?
The Special Endowment of Some Members
In the bestowal of gifts, the supreme objective is the
carrying out of the sovereign, eternal purpose of God in
Christ Jesus. This is dearly shown in the verses we now
study, -- in the force of these three prepositions: "till";
"unto"; and "for."
4:12 (R.V.). "For the perfecting of the saints, unto
the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of
Christ"
4:13. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
4:14,15. "That we henceforth be no more children, ...
But ... may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ."
"Till" suggests the working out of the
predestined purpose.
"Unto" points toward the finished product.
"For" indicates the present process.
God is not working in a haphazard fashion. He is steadily
progressing along planned lines with the ultimate goal ever
in view. God has purposed that the Body shall be the fulness
of Christ. To that end there must be steady growth out of
spiritual infancy unto spiritual maturity. "No more
children," but constant growth "up into Christ in all
things." The goal is "the perfect man"; humanity in
Christ perfected according to the standard of the Perfect
Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus the standard for the Church is set, and it is the
business of every Christian to ascertain what it is; to
accept it; and to adjust his whole life to the achievement
of it. How prone we are to say that God's standard is
impossible and impracticable in such a world as this! How we
try to persuade God to lower His standard to the level of
our experience! But we cannot so deflect God. He resolutely
insists upon our decision to accept His standard and to
determine to bring our experience up to the level of His
standard. God works steadily on to bring the Church "unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
For the accomplishment of His purpose God has made ample
provision through the bestowal of special gifts upon some
members of the Body in order that they may be used to
prepare every member for his particular task.
4:11. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers."
The foundation of the Church must be securely laid in the
Lord Jesus Christ and made known in an authoritative body of
teaching. This divinely attested truth must be thoroughly
taught to the Church. So Christ gave to the Church in its
infancy some to be apostles and prophets. Upon this
foundation, laid once for all, a building was to be
constructed for a habitation of God made up of living
stones, to be added one by one. A mystical Body was to be
created for Christ, the Head, out of sinners saved by grace
and quickened by His Spirit. This required evangelists who
would go far and wide to proclaim the gospel and extend the
boundaries of the Church through winning souls one by one
and "adding to the Church such as should be saved." But
the sheep must be shepherded, so there was the need of
pastors; the members of the Body must be built up in their
knowledge of Christ through the Word, so there was need of
teachers. As the evangelist labours to extend the Church, so
the pastor and the teacher work to edify it.
"For the perfecting of the saints." The
special gifts are bestowed with a definite, divine design.
No gift is bestowed for the sake of the man himself. It is
given to one for the sake of the whole. Neither does it
place the monopoly of service in the hands of a gifted few.
The evangelist, pastor and teacher are not commissioned by
the Lord to do all the work of the Church, but rather to so
feed, teach and train the saints individually that each of
them be brought to spiritual maturity and thoroughly
equipped to fill his place and do his work in building up
the whole Body. Every Christian has been made a king and a
priest unto God (Revelation 1:6). As the whole Body is bound
together in faith and in life, so is it also united in
service.
But what discord we see in the Church to-day caused by
these very gifts! What unholy ambition! What sinful pride!
What corroding jealousy! What spiteful envy. What
ill-concealed resentment! What deep-rooted bitterness! What
hateful backbiting! What colossal conceit! What domineering
leadership! What arrogant presumption! And because of such
sins, factions and divisions within the church. Just this
week I heard of a tragic breach of fellowship within one
church caused largely by the jealousy of a pastor over the
fruitful work of one of his parishioners who taught a large
Bible class. It is comparatively easy for one Christian to
weep with another Christian in sorrow, but how pitifully few
are able to rejoice with those that rejoice in success!
In Ephesians God has shown us what is our
responsibility in this matter of keeping this God-ordained
and God-designed unity of the Spirit in the Body of Christ.
We should have a fixed determination that we shall not allow
anything for which we are to blame to separate us even a
hairs-breadth from any other member of the Body. We should
study diligently how to keep this unity; and make it our
personal business to advocate and advance it whenever
possible. We should determine to stand together on the basis
of truth and in the bond of love as an act of allegiance and
devotion to Him who is our one Lord, and thus glorify Him by
walking in unity.
  
This page Copyright © 2004 Peter Wade. The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the King James Version. This article appears on the site: http://www.peterwade.com/. Would you like your own copy of books by Peter Wade and other authors? Go to our Catalog. | |
