The unfortunate reality is that many confuse uniformity with unity. Early 20th century revivals occurred due to unity in spirit. Book of acts much the same. It seems as though they were humble and open to what The Spirit was doing. Much more so than today. Just my 2 cents...
The unfortunate reality is that many confuse uniformity with unity. Early 20th century revivals occurred due to unity in spirit. Book of acts much the same. It seems as though they were humble and open to what The Spirit was doing. Much more so than today. Just my 2 cents...
What is truly disunity? Brethren loving one another in spite of various views about various topics and working to advance the name of Jesus, the truth of Him being God, and obedience to Acts 2:38... or arguing and dividing over the fact that we don't agree on various issues... while demanding uniformity?
Those who demand uniformity to supposedly "please the Lord" are unwilling to unite with other brethren who do not think like them. In essence... they want EVERYONE to believe exactly like them on those subjects that they deem essential.
We need to move beyond this. Unity in Christ is a unity of spirit through the Holy Spirit not a legalistic uniformity on all teachings and/or points of view. Rev. Blume and I disagree on issues relating to Prophecy. Praxeas and I disagree on how to biblically define Oneness. However, I count both of these men my dearly beloved brothers in Christ because they have the very same Holy Spirit, I know, because I've felt Him move in them plenty of times. While we are diverse in our views... we are in a unity of the Spirit. This in my opinion is a great strength if the Apostolic movement could catch on.
What is truly disunity? Brethren loving one another in spite of various views about various topics and working to advance the name of Jesus, the truth of Him being God, and obedience to Acts 2:38... or arguing and dividing over the fact that we don't agree on various issues... while demanding uniformity?
Those who demand uniformity to supposedly "please the Lord" are unwilling to unite with other brethren who do not think like them. In essence... they want EVERYONE to believe exactly like them on those subjects that they deem essential.
We need to move beyond this. Unity in Christ is a unity of spirit through the Holy Spirit not a legalistic uniformity on all teachings and/or points of view.
Just to make my point a little clearer...I agree wholeheartedly with your position. Historically and even today many oneness higher ups have been open to dialogue with the broader body. Thats my experience and prayer for today. Praying that God would direct me to fulfill His prayer; "That they all may be one".
Just to make my point a little clearer...I agree wholeheartedly with your position. Historically and even today many oneness higher ups have been open to dialogue with the broader body. Thats my experience and prayer for today. Praying that God would direct me to fulfill His prayer; "That they all may be one".
First of all, i recognize that humans being what they are, are not going to do everything the way I think they should.... and my job is to love them anyway (you are welcome, you can use that all you like. my dad told me that 25 years ago...its saved me a good bit of misery)
Second, I am pretty picky about who I really "walk" with. THOSE people, I am going to be in harmony with on important matters of Doctrine. by "walk" I mean the people who I allow to speak into my life, who have permission to tell me anything they think i need to hear etc.
Third, there are those I walk with that I attend church with. I am going to teach what we beleive as a church, I am going to trust those who I know what they believe with teaching etc. and I am going to love those that are coming along beside us.
Those that are beyond that scope, I will love, will call brother, will "fellowship" with etc, but I am not digging into thier doctrines and not worried about dotting those "i's" and crossing those "t's".
Im not going to allow anyone to speak falsely or take my family or those I "walk" with down a wrong road... so if someone gets beyond the line and is influencing, well then Im going to cut bait...
those are just my thoughts.
will we ever? my point for me is, I am already with those that matter
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
First of all, i recognize that humans being what they are, are not going to do everything the way I think they should.... and my job is to love them anyway (you are welcome, you can use that all you like. my dad told me that 25 years ago...its saved me a good bit of misery)
Second, I am pretty picky about who I really "walk" with. THOSE people, I am going to be in harmony with on important matters of Doctrine. by "walk" I mean the people who I allow to speak into my life, who have permission to tell me anything they think i need to hear etc.
Third, there are those I walk with that I attend church with. I am going to teach what we beleive as a church, I am going to trust those who I know what they believe with teaching etc. and I am going to love those that are coming along beside us.
Those that are beyond that scope, I will love, will call brother, will "fellowship" with etc, but I am not digging into thier doctrines and not worried about dotting those "i's" and crossing those "t's".
Im not going to allow anyone to speak falsely or take my family or those I "walk" with down a wrong road... so if someone gets beyond the line and is influencing, well then Im going to cut bait...
those are just my thoughts.
will we ever? my point for me is, I am already with those that matter
Great post and good point!!!
I remember Nona Freeman talking about walking into a church service and not understanding what she felt. She said that she asked God what it was that she felt. He replied, "Perfect unity."
The only times I have felt perfect unity is when we are all praying together. Otherwise, we get up with our own spirit and "walk" with those which we agree.
So, yes, I agree. I am already in unity with those that matter.
The unity the scriptures present goes beyond what is being posted here.
10Now 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.1 Cor. 1:10
We have learned by our OWN experience that we CANNOT find true Biblical agreement with others. Yet the Holy Spirit DOES present that to us.
We are simply accepting a lower than Biblical standard.
The unity the scriptures present goes beyond what is being posted here.
10Now 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.1 Cor. 1:10
We have learned by our OWN experience that we CANNOT find true Biblical agreement with others. Yet the Holy Spirit DOES present that to us.
We are simply accepting a lower than Biblical standard.
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