It’s not the only time I’ve made one of those “city-boy” mistakes, nor will it be my last, I’m sure. Once while preaching I referred to cows with masculine pronouns, rather than feminine ones. You would have thought I had told the funniest joke on planet earth and sadly, for awhile, I didn’t even know why people were laughing. Thankfully, my loving spouse explained to me my gender confusion and made me promise never to “utter” another illustration about farm animals. That’s why some of you are going to scratch your heads as to why I would choose to share this next illustration.
It has been told to me by those who supposedly know these things that it’s not uncommon for hound dogs placed in the back of a pickup truck to bicker and fight among themselves. But, if you turn them loose to chase their prey, they will work together in perfect harmony. Actually, these same dog owners say that the sound of their dogs on the hunt is like beautifully orchestrated music to their ears.
The same basic principle is at work in a symphony orchestra. If you have ever attended a concert and arrived early to take your seat, you were probably treated to some of the most unusual instrumental sounds you have ever heard emanating from the stage. Different instrumentalists playing different notes at different times and none of them blending together to make anything intelligible sounding. But, when the conductor arrives to lead the orchestra with everyone playing from the same sheet music, suddenly everything makes beautiful sense.
Obviously, you know the reason for the change in both of these illustrations. When there is a common goal, both animals and humans alike can be brought into wonderful harmony. When they are working together for the common good of all, the end result is beautiful music to your ears. This is the goal that scripture presents as an ideal to be sought by all believers in Christ’s church and which they should be protecting like a valued jewel. Listen to the words of the psalmist, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1)
Chuck Swindoll in his book, Hope Again, gives an excellent definition of unity and helps us to distinguish it from some things that masquerade in its place. He writes, “Union has affiliation with others but no common bond that makes them one in heart. Uniformity has everyone looking and thinking alike. Unanimity is complete agreement across the board. Unity, however, refers to a oneness of heart, a similarity of purpose, and an agreement on major points of doctrine.”
No matter which illustration best speaks to your understanding, it is important to acknowledge that God never intended unity to destroy a person’s individuality. But, neither should a person’s individuality be allowed to destroy unity. God calls Christians to come together around core doctrines/purposes that transcend our individuality and that allows us to work together in unity. Unity isn’t about seeing everything exactly the same on every issue. Rather, it is about NOT allowing ancillary matters to distract us while following our Leader (Christ) as He directs us toward common purposes.
One of the most beautiful images in scripture demonstrating the unity Christ desires in His church is found in the human body. When the different members of our bodies properly relate to the head by responding to orders issued from the brain and nervous system, then each member works together in unity/harmony for the good of the overall body. When the body functions in this fashion it is not only a healthy body, it is also able to fulfill the purpose for which it is designed. This means that unity is not to be an end in itself, but it is to be a means to an end.
That is why Christians are so often exhorted in scripture concerning the unity of His body. It is because disunity shows the body to be unhealthy and only serves to hinder God’s work rather than advance it. It’s no wonder Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) All it takes for the unity and effectiveness of Christ’s church to be seriously impeded is for one member to refuse to cooperate with the impulses/directives of the Head (i.e., Christ).
People that are consistently out of step with their local Bible-believing church are often those that have some type of spiritual illness that prevents them from getting the proper orders from the impulse center of the “Brain” (i.e., Christ). In other words, much of the disunity we see in our churches today is simply the result of people being out of touch with Christ, resulting in His body being crippled in its work.
I have personally witnessed churches disintegrate because of the selfishness of members that have chosen the “spiritually diseased approach” of going it alone and/or forcing their own agenda. Forget the hours of prayer that the leaders have invested in discerning the vision of God for their congregations or the careful exposition of scripture that shows the inaccuracy of closely held “convictions” that are not biblically based. All that matters to some people is that they get their way no matter who it hurts or how it affects the rest of the body. They have decided to go rogue and act independently of the “Head.”
What our churches need today is an old-fashioned revival that brings conviction of sin to spiritually ailing members. I don’t mean revival meetings that are scheduled in the spring and the fall, but, rather, a divine work of God that occurs as we seek Him with all our hearts and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14). We need to feel God’s spiritual scalpel operating on our hearts, cutting out our selfish, arrogant, and un-Christlike attitudes and motivations.
Church isn’t about tailoring every service to suit your preferences or maintaining the status quo so that your comfort level is preserved. Church is about people from all walks of life coming together around our common salvation, beliefs and purposes so that we can work together for the good of the overall body. When that happens, the church is healthy and able to thrive while effectively accomplishing God’s work in the world.
If you’re out of step with your local church then maybe the problem is in you and not the ones you’re targeting with your public/private campaigns of terror. Strange, isn’t it, how we too often see the splinter in our brother’s eye, but miss the log in our own.
