Azusa Street

[Nina]

Ravi Zacharias calls it university.

Unity in diversity.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Sam

There can be unity without uniformity (everyone exactly alike) and without union (everyone in the same organization).

Amen again, Bro. Sam. I think thats where we miss it. We think that to be united we must all act the same, look the same, believe the same, dress the same, and carry the same card in our pocket. And that just ain't gonna happen. But, it doesn't have to happen either. We're not talking organizational unity (ecumenicalism). We're not even talking complete doctrinal unity. But, spiritual unity. Our hearts knitted together in love through the Holy Ghost. It is, in affect, simply allowing the Holy Ghost to do His perfect work in us. It is that simple.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

...but, because of divisions among God's People we should be echoing Frank Bratlemans words louder that ever. Isn't it our jobs as Christians to preserve the Unity of the Spirit? Isn't it Gods desire for brethren to dwell together in Unity? Jesus said in Jhn 17:21 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. What Bartleman wrote mirrors the very prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden. That, through our unity the world would believe the Gospel.

Isn't it true Jesus will have a church without spot, wrinkle and blemish? Then I have to ask, does the present day church fit that description with all of our divisions and, as Paul clearly said, our carnal strife?

In the Garden of Eden, everything was perfect. That is until Satan entered the picture. But, Revelations paints a picture of a restored paradise. Pentecost was a day of unity. There were in One Accord. If we intend on being God's Church, that harmony, that cohesiveness, that unity must be restored.

And it will be. Not through human endeavor because our efforts always fail. But the restoration of God's true church will be through and by the Holy Ghost.

No those aren't the words of a Jr High Schooler or a hippy. Those are words that only echo the prayer of the Lord Jesus in the garden on the night of His betrayal.

A couple of thoughts on your good words:

1. Actually, the church IS ONE in the sight of God. Of course He is aware of all of our little divisions, organizations, fellowships, denominations, etc. but I think He basically ignores them. These are our man made divisions and I believe it is His desire that we tear down these walls and barricades we have created.

2. Ephesians 4:1-16 encourages us to keep/preserve/maintain the unity that already exists, not to try to manufacture some kind of false unity. He tells us that we all have:
--one Lord (we have all surrendered to Jesus and confessed Him as Lord (Rom 10:8-13)
--one faith (the faith once for all delivered to the saints Jude 3)
--one baptism (by one Spirit we have all been placed into one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
--one God, (we all worship the one triune God as revealed in our Old and New Testaments as Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, 1 John 5:6-8)
--one Father, we have all been born into one family. 1 John 5:1 says "If you believe that Jesus is the Christ --that he is God's Son and your Savior-- then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love his children too,"
--this same God is over us as sovereign and dwells within us as the Holy Spirit, or as the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19) or as Christ in us (Colossians 1:27)

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Sam

A couple of thoughts on your good words:

1. Actually, the church IS ONE in the sight of God. Of course He is aware of all of our little divisions, organizations, fellowships, denominations, etc. but I think He basically ignores them. These are our man made divisions and I believe it is His desire that we tear down these walls and barricades we have created.

2. Ephesians 4:1-16 encourages us to keep/preserve/maintain the unity that already exists, not to try to manufacture some kind of false unity. He tells us that we all have:
--one Lord (we have all surrendered to Jesus and confessed Him as Lord (Rom 10:8-13)
--one faith (the faith once for all delivered to the saints Jude 3)
--one baptism (by one Spirit we have all been placed into one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
--one God, (we all worship the one triune God as revealed in our Old and New Testaments as Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, 1 John 5:6-8)
--one Father, we have all been born into one family. 1 John 5:1 says "If you believe that Jesus is the Christ --that he is God's Son and your Savior-- then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love his children too,"
--this same God is over us as sovereign and dwells within us as the Holy Spirit, or as the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19) or as Christ in us (Colossians 1:27)

Amen, Brother Sam. That, my brother, is the message of the hour (though I think some might misunderstand your use of the word "Triune"). For several years now the Lord has been impressing on me the need to work together toward unity. It all started while reading the Book of Nehemiah. I wrote a study entitled, Walls from the Rubble. It is based on Nehemiah and the more I wrote, the more God impressed on me the urgency that the church prepare itself for His coming by uniting together. I hope some day to get that study on the computer so I can share it with others (As if anyone would want to read my scribblings).But I do appreciate your post. I agree wholeheartedly- it is God's desire that we begin to remove the barricades. And slowly, ever so slowly, I see it happening. Thank you for your good word, Bro. Sam.