Unity – Can it Be Had in the Modern Religious World?
- It can be if we respect the wishes of Christ. He prayed for unity: “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).
- It can be if we believe there is one God. The Ephesians were told to keep unity on the basis of this truth (Eph. 4:3-6).
- It can be if we realize the dangers of division. Paul taught against religious division: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment…there are contentions among you, Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:10-13).
- It can be if we are willing to yield human opinions to the authority of God’s Word. Jeremiah urged that man’s wisdom is not a safe guide: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
Obviously, unity does not now exist. The modern religious world is divided into several hundred denominations who differ over names, creeds, practices, organization, worship, and ritual. But unity could exist if creeds were discarded in favor of all people accepting the Holy Scriptures as the sole authority in religion. The Bible only makes Christians only! If all are just Christians, nothing more and nothing less, all will be united. You are always welcome at the church of Christ.
