Apostolic Unity

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Shingledecker

What prevents the apostolic church from experiencing the type of unity Jesus desires (Jn 17)?

We are very human and carnal. Look at what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 quoted from the KJV below:
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Their divisions showed that they were carnal, or fleshly, or governed by their carnal/fleshly/sinful natures.

Here is a Jim Ellis paraphrase of that passage:
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of UPC; and another, I am of PAW or AMF or CoJC or WWPF or GNC or GIB; are ye not carnal?

My opinion on the subject.
I am ordained in a Jesus Name Apostolic organization and also ordained in a local trinity church. In my opinion, all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior have been placed into the One Church--the Body of Christ-- by the Holy Spirit and are my brothers and sisters. In my opinion, their status in the Body of Christ or Family of God has nothing to do with water or Spirit baptism, what they believe about the godhead, or how they dress.