The Unity of the Church
The Church, as a whole, is a front office. It is the window or inter-face for the world. Can you imagine a nation “peeping” through the window of the Global Church and sighting a human body walking around without its head? Then they look through another window only to see another frightening scene: a hand moving without an arm. A foot walking on its own, an arm moving without its hand, a heart floating in the air, a leg with a missing foot walking sporadically… The observer of such a disturbing show would run for his or her dear life?
Sorrowfully, this is what the watching world sees when it picks up the courage to look into the window of a Global Church that is not connected to its Head.
One Head of the Body
A Church without a Head cannot function. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. The Body of Christ has different parts, with different functions. The different parts of the Body operate in connection to the Head. There are many Churches within the Body of Christ and its message is central: Salvation through Jesus Christ.
Confusion within the Body
There is confusion on different aspects of the Christian Doctrine. Churches disagree on whether women are allowed to preach. Others argue about how music should be presented in the Church. Some fight over the meaning of the Sabbath… the arguments go on and on.
Take for example, the Work of the Holy Spirit. Some believe the outward work of Holy Spirit (the Gifts of the Spirit) is the evidence of Salvation. They confuse it with the inward work of the Holy Spirit, which is a work of grace. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the two.
Imagine boarding a plane without reaching its destination.
In the Books of Acts, people from all nations witnessed the mighty works of God. “They all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’Acts 2:12 – But others mocking said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’” – Acts 2:13
Speaking in other tongues brought glory to God, even though not everyone was convinced by it. Some of them began to ask questions.
This miracle opened the door for Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14-41.
He preached the gospel. It was the Spirit of God who worked on the inside of those who “received” the Word. Indeed, the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth.
“So those who received the word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” – Acts 2:41.
V. 42 If you read further, it says those who received the Word devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship with other believers.
Imagine if the crowds walked away after the miracle without the inward work of the Spirit!
The outward work of the Holy Spirit should not be confused with the inward work of the Holy Spirit.
Unity of the Spirit: Unity of the Church
There may be different denominations within the Body of Christ with different understandings of Scripture, however, they are still “connected” through the central message and teaching of Jesus Christ.
The Church is United because it is United by God’s Spirit. To be disunited, is to be disconnected from God’s Spirit.
“There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all and through all and in all” – Ephesians 4:4-6
© Ruth Dickson
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