Dwelling in Unity

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, English Standard Version)

David writes Psalm 133 as an expression of the importance, blessing, and means by which God’s people are united. Unity does not happen by mistake or achieved solely by human means. Derek Kidner points out that “true unity, like all good gifts, is from above; bestowed rather than contrived, a blessing far more than an achievement.”[1] Further, this Psalm “celebrates unity and urges God’s people to pursue it when it is lacking.”[2]

Recent comments on this blog have questioned our author’s motives and accused us of thriving on creating division. This accusation pains me because I know many of our authors personally. Each one generously donates their time and work for the benefit of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Although it can sometimes feel overwhelming when multiple authors write articles on the same topic, it is born out of a desire for Advent Christian unity. Instead of assigning motives to those we might not know personally, seeking to understand another person’s perspective can help further unity. As pointed out by many previous articles, Advent Christians share diverse beliefs and thoughts. This diversity can be a significant strength for our small tribe if we afford one another the same charity we hope to receive.

Unity Demands Love

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, ESV)

This demand for love expressed from one disciple to another is not an ideal that would be nice for a disciple of Jesus to exemplify. This love is expressed because of the love of Christ for the disciple. Therefore, when love is found in the Christian community, it tells the world to whom we belong. Love is a reflection of God’s grace to his people. Sometimes, it is difficult for us to live self-sacrificially and love others because of our sinful nature. However, by God’s grace, he is sanctifying us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Our lack of love results from the fall and grace should be shown to each as we joyfully walk the path of obedience and faith.

Unity Includes Correction

In the early 40s AD, Paul wrote to the Galatians. In Chapter 2, Paul mentions a dispute with Peter regarding his capitulation to the Jews regarding the Gentiles. The first-century church learned to navigate the implications of the New Covenant as they sought to reach both Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel. This led to councils and disputes among even the Apostles at times. As F.F. Bruce points out, “Whatever loss of mutual confidence may have been occasioned by the dispute between the two apostles, it did not lead to a breach between the Gentile mission and Jerusalem.”[3] Although we might be leery of discussing our differences or correcting a brother/sister in Christ, such discussions can aid us in our shared mission. Sometimes, we need correction from a friend, as demonstrated by Paul.

Unity Involves Conversation

Eckhard Schnabel makes this observation about the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, “a more helpful way of seeing the Apostles’ Council as paradigmatic focuses on the narrative itself, which describes how the messianic people of God made decisions regarding difficult issues regarding membership and status: the leaders of the community call a council, hear testimony, interpret Scripture as God’s word for the new situation, achieve unanimity, declare their convictions in propositions of faith, send out envoys with letters, establish peace between local congregations. Neither Peter, nor James, nor Paul claim authority, because both the Jerusalem believers and the Gentile believers acknowledge God as the One who causes both Jews and Gentiles to come to faith in Jesus, and congregations to be established and to grow.”[4]

The church has maybe never been more united than it was in the first century during the Apostolic era. As the early church sought answers to a practical and theological problem, the early church’s leaders gathered to discuss and debate. Since our beginning, the church has gathered its leaders to tackle practical and theological challenges. We should resist the current culture of division and tribalism while walking by the Spirit toward realizing the greater unity afforded us through Christ. When we disagree, we can discuss those disagreements with love and charity. Acknowledging disagreements isn’t division any more than a Doctor telling us we have cancer is the cause of our cancer.

As mentioned in a previous article, there are implications to biblical and theological conviction. If one church holds to consubstantiation in the Lord’s Table while calling a pastor who believes in the common Zwinglian view, the congregation will have a significant problem. One believes in the real presence of Christ in the sacraments, while the other believes the Lord’s Table to be simply a memorial. What would happen if a church or pastor becomes convinced of paedobaptism? According to our current structure, that church or pastor could remain in the denomination. Do we see that as a problem? I don’t, but most of my friends do. My point is that discussion is proper and biblical among God’s people to work out the implications of our convictions and find a path toward greater cooperation.

Unity Is Christocentric

In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, he looks to his union with the Father as the example by which his people should unite (John 17:11). Herman Bavinck observes “If ever there is to be unity among mankind again, it will not be achieved by any external, mechanical rallying around some tower of Babel or other, but by a development from within, a gathering under one and the same Head (Eph. 1:10), by the peacemaking creation of all peoples into a new man (Eph. 2:15), by regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:6), and by the walking of all people in one and the same light (Rev. 21:24).”[5]

What can we achieve apart from the Spirit’s work among us? We must walk by the Spirit through our differences to realize our unity in Christ. Christ is our mediator not only within the Godhead but between one another. When we discuss matters of all import, our speech and demeanor should be coated with the knowledge that Christ died for the other just as he died for us. Further, I seek different perspectives not because I seek a fight but because Christ has brought us together for mutual aid and affection.

Can We Dwell In Unity?

Tremper Longman points out the meaning of Psalm 133: “In those times when we experience unity among God’s people, this prayer expresses our happiness. During periods of turmoil in the community, the prayer can be read as a yearning for unity.”[6] Although pockets of disunity exist, as many have withdrawn from the fellowship because of their lack of giving and participation (see Undivided by Dawn Rutan), unity was exemplified at the most recent Triennial when the brethren came together for worship, fellowship, and business. Disagreement in some of those meetings and subsequent publications does not stand as evidence against unity. Instead, the willingness to engage as brothers and sisters in Christ exemplifies some of the best features of Christian fellowship.

I encourage us to strive forward in productive conversation to maintain our unity as a network and denomination. Conversation that addresses problems leads to solutions. The most recent ACGC initiatives include church planting and leadership development. Over the last few years, MTI has trained several people who currently fill pastoral functions, with many more still to come. Last year, the Department of Church Planting was created as ACGC brought on Dr. Adrian Dixon as Church Planting Coordinator for North American Advent Christian church planting. If hard questions weren’t asked over the last several years, we wouldn’t have as many men and women trained or in training for ministry; we would have less momentum for church planting than we do now.

I encourage you to enter the conversation or start one. Do you have ideas on how to serve our local homeless communities better? Share your lessons. Are you struggling with the implications of your theology regarding your fellowship? Someone else probably is, too. This is why many of us write: to share our thoughts, express our doubts, and introduce ideas that could be helpful to the brethren. This is how we dwell in unity.

[1]  Derek Kidner, Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975), 489.

[2] Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 438.

[3]  F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982), 134.

[4] Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Expanded Digital Edition., Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 655.

[5]  Herman Bavinck, Our Reasonable Faith, trans. Henry Zylstra (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2016), 35

[6] Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 440.