Divine Unity

by W. BUNTING, Edinburgh | Category: General | Jul 1964

Many and varied are the voices heard today pressing the need for unity amongst the churches. As I write these notes I am aware of the fact that this is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This movement had its origin with Abbe Couturier, a French Roman Catholic priest, and in large measure it seeks to undo the work of the Reformers. We are being reminded of such events as the recent visit of Pope Paul to the Holy Land, and of his meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople. We are told that these are milestones on the road to unity.

It was somewhat startling to see a column in The Scotsman some time ago, headed with the words "Talks of Unity Pointless - Protestants advised to submit to Rome". This was the view of an Edinburgh Roman Catholic priest who clearly stated the barriers which separate the Roman Catholic Church from Protestants. To quote his own words he likens these barriers to a mountain range, "the peaks of which represent the doctrines of Transubstantiation, Infallibility, the Mass, the Assumption, the Seven Sacraments and all the other giants of the great barrier". In his view the only course open to Protestants is to embrace Roman Catholicism and to accept these doctrines which have no basis in the Scriptures, and which we regard as monstrous.

We pause to ask the questions, Are the Scriptures silent on this all-important question? Is there no guidance as to unity? We are glad to say that the Lord has left us in no doubt, and to hearts which are subject to His will there is clear guidance in the word of God. The high priest Caiaphas little realized the importance of the prophecy he spoke when he pronounced on the results of the death of Christ

"It is expedient for you that one Man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not... And not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad" (John 11.50, 52).

Every true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ deplores separation from other believers, but unity which is of God must be in conformity with the will of God as revealed in the Scriptures. The present ecumenical movement will, we believe, achieve its object ultimately. By sinking differences and agreeing while they disagree, the amalgamation of the various religious sects in one great ecclesiastical union will take place. Alas! this at best will be but a human expedient. Let us look at the Scriptures in our consideration of divine unity.

THE PURPOSE OF THE AGES

"The mystery which from all ages hath been hidden in God who created all things" (Ephesians 3.9) was first announced by the Lord Jesus Christ at Caesarea Philippi when He said to the apostle Peter, "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church; and the gates of Rades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16.18). Earlier in these articles, under the title, "Christ the Head of the Church", we have referred briefly to this remarkable pronouncement. It is worthy of note that the Lord uses the word "My Church", and of particular importance is the phrase "I will build". The Lord Himself is the Builder, Head and Saviour of this Church (Ephesians 5.23). It is indeed a cause for thanksgiving that we have no need to pray for the unity of this Church which is inviolable and eternal. It is composed of those who, like Peter, have acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. No power on earth, or in hell, can mar or destroy this Church, and its security does not depend on human responsibility. Membership of the Church which is His Body is eternal in character, and the union is an indestructible one. Christ will present this "Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing" (Ephesians 5.27). While men may not appreciate it, the manifold wisdom of God is being demonstrated unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places "according to the purpose of the ages which Re purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3.11 R.V.M.).

THE CHURCH AND CHURCHES OF GOD

When Moses was about to make the Tabernacle in the wilderness he was warned by God, "See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was shewed thee in the mount" (Hebrews 8.5). He had a divine pattern to follow. There was no place for his own ideas or imaginations. In the New Testament there is legislation for a church of God locally, and for churches of God. Men may make churches or assemblies of their fellow-men; God alone can make a church of God, using men as His builders.

The pattern is seen clearly in Acts 2.41, 42 and the disciples' pathway is marked out as follows,

They received the word,

Were baptized,

Were added, (to the church of God in Jerusalem),

Continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching,

And in the Fellowship,

In the breaking of bread,

And the prayers.

There was but one church of God at Jerusalem though the disciples must have met in a number of different places in that city. They were a people called out, and called together, in divine testimony and answering to the divine pattern. As the work of God progressed and churches of God were planted in other cities the pattern followed was the same as that of the church in Jerusalem.

There are certain characteristics of a church of God. It is a place where the Scriptures have full authority and the Lord Jesus is owned as Lord, a place where God's will is done on earth, and a place of divine government. There are elders or overseers to shepherd, or care for, the church of God. In contrast to the Church which is Christ's Body, in the churches of God there is human responsibility.

Saints may be added to a church of God, and may be excommunicated therefrom for moral sin, doctrinal error or trespass against a brother (1 Corinthians 5.4-13; Titus 3.10; Matthew 18.15-17). It is well to note that such excommunication does not affect membership of the Church which is Christ's Body. The writer testifies his warm appreciation of the Reformers and of the great debt we owe to them. It must, however, be realized that in the matter of church constitution they erred. They attempted to reform the Church of Rome which had no foundation based upon the word of God. They did not go back to the divine pattern, and in consequence there emerged the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. In the Scriptures we find "The churches of God which were in Judaea" (1 Thessalonians 2.14), and "the churches of Macedonia" (2 Corinthians 8.1). These churches were not independent of one another. How could they be when formed, united and governed by the same divine principles? They were in a fellowship or partnership and this is the antithesis to independency. They were a divine unity. This unity is still God's purpose for His people today.

THE HOUSE OF GOD

"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2.5). Stones, unless they are builded together, cannot form a house. How thankful we are that God has a house today, a place of divine service! It is a conditional place as seen from Hebrews 3.6, "But Christ as a Son, over His (God's) house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end". It is a place where behaviour and testimony go hand in hand, even as Paul wrote to Timothy, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3.15)...

The house of God is composed of the churches of God fitly framed together as seen in Ephesians 2.21, "In whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord". We see that the house of God is the aggregate of the churches of God built according to the divine pattern. Amidst the discord and disunity today God has His house where the words of the Song of Ascents may find their full expression,

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity

It is like the precious oil upon the head,

That ran down upon the beard,

Even Aaron's beard

That came dawn upon the skirt of his garments

Like the dew of Herman,

That cameth down upon the mountains of Zion

Far there the Lord commanded the blessing,

Even life far evermore."(Psalm 133)

W. BUNTING, Edinburgh | Jul 1964
General