INDEX

On the 13th May 2000 at a Forum called

"Is Britain still a Christian Country"

one of the invited speakers a Humanist said that his Society was

growing daily. In his summing up he made this statement;

'Until the Churches get there act together,

the Humanist Society will continue to grow'.

United in Christ or Divided in man

by Raymond Russell Unity

Christians are so often called and labeled as hypocrites, by non-Christians,

why? Because we claim to have received Jesus in our lives, and that we are filled with his love, yet we do very little to demonstrate this act of love in our relationship with each other. The Church is divided on many issues of doctrine and theology; yet proclaim the same message of the gospel, the message of love, forgiveness and truth. Jesus in John 13: 35 announced "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another".

This love that Jesus is talking about, is the characteristic mark of his disciples, but to the non-Christian this seems to be missing. They hear the Church preach about love and forgiveness, yet to them we are hypocrites, we claim to live by the word of God, but we will not forgive one another. Many people in modern society today, accept Jesus and hold him in the highest regard, but have no time for the church. It is not surprising if they see us squabbling with each other. In Matthew 5: 23-24 Jesus teaches about reconciliation and forgiveness, Jesus is very clear on this point; about being right with each other, why, because if we are not right with each other, we are not right with God. And cannot hope to be forgiven, unless first we forgive; and confess our sins, not only to God, but also to each other. It is only in our love for each other that we can truly claim the Christian faith and demonstrate our unity with each other that `oneness', which truly proclaim the gospel of Christ.

As individuals, God gives us his Sprit, but collectively he gives us each other in 1 Corinthians 12: 15-20, Paul says, v15. `If the foot should say, " Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body'. If as a Church we operate in this way, how can we truly proclaim that we are one in Christ? Verse 20 `As it is, there are many parts, but one body' This clearly illustrates unity in diversity, like the human body must have diversity to work effectively as a whole, so must the Church. It is God's purpose in diversifying the parts of the body the 'Church' with each exercising the different gifts, not the same gifts. That is why each denomination must work as one body to bring about Christ's united purpose. It would be true to say, that the churches in nearly ever parishes are working together in some kind of partnership. This in its self is a tremendous witness of Christ at work in the world. Yet there are the underlining issues that keep the 'Church' divided. It's because of this that the world sees the church has hypocrites. Every one of us was designed to be different, and not the same, nor to perform identical functions, Christians cannot escape from this fact; we are joined together in Christ. Therefore we are 'one' body, just as God is 'one'. (1 Timothy 2:5). Paul says in (Ephesians 4: 4-6) "There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to be one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." So all Christians in a sense cannot speak of being separate, because their doctrine or theology is not the same as theirs.

In scriptures it points to one people of God, 'the Church'. Therefore the foundation of the Church is grounded in Jesus, who is the head of the Church and the one shepherd John 10:14. If we are one people of God and are grounded in Jesus; then there cannot be any division between Christians, Galatians 3: 28 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus'.

There are at least 23,000 plus denominations in the world and more being added each year. This increase could indicate that the Church is growing by dividing and multiplying like the human body does as it grows, or does it indicate that it is dividing into individual parts (denominations) because it is unable to work out its differences. God provides his Church with a variety of gifts, (1Cor 12: 9-11), to be used for the building of His Church.

This can only be achieved when we truly recognize the different ministries that He has given each denomination. When this happens; and only then will the world recognize that we are truly one body in Christ, proclaim the same message of Salvation. When we look at the Church as one the body of Christ, we can see the basic idea of unity. This does not indicate or suggest that we should all be submerged into one denomination. In the one being of God there are three equal persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit working in perfect unity, joined together in perfect love and self-giving. The love that exists in this family, (the Trinity) is eternal and is the essential part of the divine character, (1John 4: 8) "Whoever does not love dose not know God, because God is love".

Because we are all members of the same family the Church, this love, and working as one should always be at the centre of our relationship with each other. We will from time to time often disagree over many issues; 'Church government, forms of baptism or worship', but we will still be a family; united by Christ. The world has to see that we can be one family, even though there are differences,

we most stop rejecting each other, because we do not have the same understanding or place the same thing at the centre of our belief.

In the New Testament Paul talks in his letters of many churches, but one Church. It would be right to say that there were many churches that exited in various cities and towns, and that they did not work in isolation from each other. Why? because they expressed their unity as one family, in receiving ministry from each other and sharing in each other's needs. (Acts 2: 42-45; 4:34, 6: 1-6; and Romans 15: 25-26).

They possessed a genuine unity in Christ, 'a spiritual one' and knew that Jesus was the head of the Church; and that they were accountable to him. They realized that the church was not confined to local or was it regional; but was a universal body of people who have one faith in Jesus Christ; who had redeemed them, and that they are only a small part of that body, the whole Church.

(Ephesians 2: 19-22; 5: 23-32; 1Timothy 3: 15 and Hebrews 12: 22-24).

Today there are many denominations representing the people of God throughout the world. To God there is no such thing as denomination, 'Anglican, Cherubim & Seraphim, Afro-Caribbean, Methodist or Roman Catholic. It is hard to believe how easily the church has allowed its self to become divided, by allowing political or secondary issues to become more central to its call. It is crucial then; that we put aside our differences that keep us separated, and stop compromising our oneness. We may put up barriers, or keep our Communion for our own members, but God does not or never will. The New Testament teaches us that Church unity is essentially a relationship built on 'love and harmony' and not on organizational unity.

To most people outside the church and even those within the church, there seems to be no unity only disunity.

So it is important that we as the Church reverse this view, and come together through prayer and dialogue to form a relationship with each other that 'oneness' in which Jesus intended for his Church. Whatever our differences or problems are, the Church was created to be a supportive body, a community to those outside, has well as those inside. It was also created to be a place of love, were ever one is welcome, a place were Christian and non-Christians alike would feel safe and at home, more importantly that they would know, that they are loved and wanted.

Within the Church there are many that have long-standing problems withfellow Christians. In 1997 Unity held its first Conference, we had speakers from four different denominations Anglican, Roman Catholic, Free Church and a Pentecostal. Each of the speakers spoke with such love and passion.

After reflecting on the weekend; I said; you know there really is no difference between them when it comes to proclaiming the Word of God. The only differences are, man’s interpretation and understanding of certain sections of God’s Word, and believing they are right and everyone else has got it wrong. Because of this and many other issues, the church in the name of God has caused great pain, suffering and anger, and has persecuted people down the centuries for not excepting their beliefs.

On the Saturday morning of the Conference, as we where getting ready to start. We became aware that there was a group of people out side on the pavement protesting about the conference, and handing out material against unity of the churches and in particular one denomination. I went out to see what was going on, and to find out who they were, they did not say who or where they came from, but proceeded to tell me why they where their and there objections, using Scripture to make there point and justify themselves. As I listened to them, my heart was breaking as I felt the anger and bitterness coming from them for this particular denomination and the unity of God’s Church. What this did for me was to enhance the urgency for reconciliation and forgiveness amongst all Christians of all denominations.

When I read the material they were handing out a few days later, I found out whom they were. As I continued to read through the material and saw how scripture was used to justify there objections to unity, this reminded me of Genesis 3 “The fall of Man” and how Satan used Scripture for his own ends to destroy man’s trust in God’s word.

I came to realise that we to use Scripture to justify our belief. As I continued to read about who they were and why they feel the way they do' towards this particular denomination. I asked myself, why after 400 years are the leaders of this Christian Church still in inciting this bitterness into their congregation. Surly as Christians we should condemn sin and pray for the sinner not hold them and ourselves in bondage, allow it to eat away at our souls and give Satan a foot hold in our lives, were he can keep us from God’s graces and blessings. How can we love God, if we do not love our neighbour, if we do not love our neighbour we cannot love ourselves.

Mt: 19.19; Mk: 12.31; Lk: 10.27; Rom:13.9; Gal: 5.14 & Jas: 2.3

The Church preaches repentance and forgiveness, yet in most Churches it will not forgive or ask for forgiveness for what it has done in the past. We as the church today cannot beheld responsible for what certain ordained ministers or lay people did in the name of God and the church all those years ago.

The only thing we can do as Christians today, is acknowledge the fact that it happened, repent, and seek forgiveness on behalf of our individual churches and start to work together in unity and purpose.

Or we can simply choose to avoid these issues and go on regardless of the consequences. But this is not what is permitted or expected in the life of a Christian or the Church. Jesus teaches us to forgive those who have wronged us, and to continue to love them no matter what they have done.

Matthew 5: 23-24 does not just mean that we should forgive, but to go and be reconciled with those who have something against us.

In some cases certain relationships may be very hard to achieve reconciliation, where others will just fall in to place and develop, relationships can only be achieved if both parts want it, and that it is done in love, prayer and through the power of the Holy Spirit, who will help to build and develop tolerance and understanding towards each other. He will help us to build those damaged bridges that will eventually bring us in to the unity that Jesus intended for his Whole Church. We must always remember that it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can achieve unity a 'spiritual unity', and the grace and strength to carry it out.

Many people will find it difficult to pray for Unity, because they only know the tradition in which they have been reared. Other ways of worship will seem foreign and possibly objectionable to them because of the way in which other Christians express their faith, and even the language of their prayers sound unreal or even wrong. We all make mistakes; the grace is in recognizing that fact, and having the humbleness to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

As Christians, love and forgiveness plays the central part of our faith, so we should always be prepared to make the first move in seeking to restore the damaged relationship. In Matthew 6: 12, Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God would forgive them in the same way that they forgave others. So if we expect God to forgive us, we most first forgive others, and to keep on loving and forgiving, no matter what the other person or persons continue to do, Matthew 18: 22, Jesus say's "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" this is true forgiveness, a genuine love. This act of love and forgiveness will have an ever-lasting impression on society and will distinguish Christians from the rest of the world. This is the foundation stone of our faith, and what will bind us together in unity, and which can only be held together in the bonds of love and peace.

I believe that the world will be watching and waiting to see if the churches in this year of Jubilee will settle there differences and stand together united as one body in Christ. We may have different methods, and our organizations may be different, and some of our beliefs, but we all have one thing in common, and that is that we are all striving towards the same goal; that of a world redeemed in Christ Jesus. Yet we seem to all be going down different paths, so lets stop, and take the same road together as one family united in unity and purpose. Let us wipe out all the debts that we hold against each other, and proclaim to the world that we are one family united in Jesus Christ, each honouring and respecting each other's differences. John 17: 23 'May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know….'

The unity of Christ produces Christians whose Christianity transcends all

their local and racial differences; it produces men who are friends with

each other because they are friends with God; it produces men who are one

because they meet in the presence of God to whom they all have access.

(William Barclay, 'The Letters of the Galatians & Ephesians)