Unity, Evidence of Discipleship

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:” 1 Peter 3:8.
“God’s servants are to work together, blending in kindly, courteous order, “in honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10. There is to be no unkind criticism, no pulling to pieces of another’s work; and there are to be no separate parties. Every man to whom the Lord has entrusted a message has his specific work. Each one has an individuality of his own, which he is not to sink in that of any other man. Yet each is to work in harmony with his brethren.” AA 275/6

“It is the will of God that union and brotherly love should exist among His people. The prayer of Christ just before His crucifixion was that His disciples might be one as He is one with the Father, that the world might believe that God had sent Him. This most touching and wonderful prayer reaches down the ages, even to our day; for His words were, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” John 17:20. While we are not to sacrifice one principle of truth, it should be our constant aim to reach this state of unity. This is the evidence of our discipleship. Said Jesus, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.” PP 520

“Unity In Diversity – John 17:20 – 21, What kind of Unity is spoken of in these words? – Unity in Diversity. Our minds do not all run in the same channel, and we have not all been given the same work. God has given to every man his work according to his several ability. There are no different kinds of work to be done, and workers of varied capabilities are needed. If our hearts are humble, if we have learned in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly, we may all press together in the narrow path marked out for us.” MS 52, 1904.

“No Destruction Of Personality – Christ is one with the Father, but Christ and God are two distinct personages. Read the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find their point clearly brought out. How earnestly the Saviour prayed that His disciples might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. But the unity that is to exist between Christ and His followers does not destroy the personality of either. They are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father.” RH June 1, 1905.

“What a wonderful statement! The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either, in mind, in purpose, in character, they are one, but not in person. By partaking of the spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ brings His disciples into a living union with Himself and with the Father. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus. Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another. This unity is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin.” MS 111, 1903.

“If the professed followers of Christ would accept God’s standard, it would bring them into Unity; but so long as human wisdom is exalted above His Holy Word there will be divisions and dissention.” PP 124.

God has united believers in church capacity in order that one may strengthen another in good and righteous endeavours. The church on earth would indeed be a symbol of the church in heaven if the members were of one mind and one faith. It is those who are not moved by the Holy Spirit that mar God’s plan. Another spirit takes possession of them, and they help to strengthen the forces of darkness. Those who are sanctified by the precious blood of Christ will not become the means of counter working the great plan which God has devised. They will not bring human depravity into things small or great. They will do nothing to perpetuate division in the church.

“Now 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.

“Notwithstanding the fact that Paul was personally taught by God, he had no strained ideas of individual responsibility. While looking to God for direct guidance, he was ever ready to recognize the authority vested in the body of believers united in church fellowship. He felt the need of counsel, and when matters of importance arose, he was glad to lay these before the church and to unite with his brethren in seeking God for wisdom to make right decisions.” AA 200

“Oh, how many times, when I have seemed to be in the presence of God and holy angels, I have heard the angel voice saying, “Press together, press together, press together. Do not let Satan cast his hellish shadow between brethren. Press together; in unity there is strength.” 2SM 374

“Though we have an individual work and an individual responsibility before God, we are not to follow our own judgment, regardless of the opinions and feelings of our brethren; for this course would lead to disorder in the church. It is the duty of ministers to respect the judgment of their brethren; but their relations to one another, as well as the doctrines they teach, should be brought to the test of the law and the testimony; then, if hearts are teachable, there will be no divisions among us.” TM 503

“One object must be kept in view constantly; that is, harmony and co-operation must be maintained without compromising one principle of truth.” CW 79.

“If there is a point of truth that you do not understand, upon which you do not agree, investigate, compare scripture with scripture, sink the shaft of truth down deep into the mine of God’s Word. You must lay yourselves and your opinions on the altar of God, put away your preconceived ideas, and let the Spirit of Heaven guide you into all truth.” 1SM 412
“Christ calls upon his followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God.” GW 391

“We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people, unify, unity. But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. With our hearts sweet and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth.” RH 4-19-1906.

Problem solving and conflict resolution

“When united with christ, members will solve church problems with sympathy, tenderness, and love – The Bible sets before us a model church. They are to be in unity with each other, and with God. When believers are united in Christ the living vine, the result is that they’re one with Christ, full of sympathy and tenderness and love.” 3 SM 18.

“Solve problems by counseling together” – The Spirit of Christ is grieved when any of His followers give evidence of possessing a harsh, unfair, or exacting spirit. As labourers together with God, each should regard the other as part of God’s great firm. He desires that they shall counsel together. There is to be no drawing apart, for the Spirit of independence dishonours the truth we profess. One special evidence that the Spirit of Christ is abiding in His church is the Unity and harmony which exists among its members. This is the brightest witness to the possession of true relation; for it will convert and transform the natural man, and fashion him after the diving similitude.” RH Feb. 18, 1909.

“An accusing spirit prevents the solving of problems” – There are some who imagine that it is their duty to be church tinkers. It is agreeable to their natural feelings to be seeking sport and stain in others; they watch diligently for something to reprove, and they become narrower and narrower in their ideas, until they are ready to make one an for a word. In
meetings, when be individually in worship of God, an accusing spirit is allowed to corne in, and one bears testimony against This spirit is unlike Christ, and to dissension and wrangling. God no more accepts such worship than accepted Cain’s offering. There is no more effectuai to growth in grâce than this disposition to criticize and others. We in our expérience seen this accusing spirit gradually enter hearts of members it has leavened nearly entire church, and resuit was that little of godliness or of spirit of Christ remaind. HS 212,213.

Unity in the church reveals Christ more than do sermons and argument.
“Whenever severity, harshness, and want of affection and love are exhibited in sacred circle of home, there assuredly be
a failure in plans and management in the church. Unity in home, unity in church, reveals Christ’s manner and grace more than sermons and arguments…” Ev 342.

Satan works to prevent harmony in the church, because bickering causes people to become disgusted with christianity -The evidence that the world cannot withstand and controvert, that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer, is in oneness of church. Their unity and harmony is the convincing argument. Satan is therefore constantly at work to prevent this harmony and union, that in witnessing bickerings, strifes, and dissension, unbelievers shall become disgusted with Christianity, and fastened in unbelief and infidelity.God is dishonor by those who profess the truth they are at variance with one another.” UL 63

Those united to Christ will true, sincere love for one another. – “My brethren are well aware that word of God presents the matter of church unity as a principle; those who are united to Christ by truth of heavenly origin should have
strong friendship for one another .. If the branches of vine are united to parent stock, same dwells in them all.In Christ Jesus there is love, and those who are united to Christ will not merely a tame, common regard and acquaintance, but true, sincere love for one another, because they are endued with spirit of Christ. This drawing one another is not Christ-like, but it is after Satan’s order.” The Ellen G. White 1888Materials, p. 1141/2

When there is harmonious action among members there will be proportionate power in their work. – “The success of our work depends upon our love to God andour love to our fellowmen. When there is harmonious action among the individual members of thé church, when there is loveand confidence manifested by brother to brother, there will be proportionate force and power in our work for thé salvation of men. Oh, how greatly we need a moral renovation! Without thé faith that works by love, you can do nothing. May thé Lord give you hearts to receive this testimony.” TM 188

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach. MARK 3:14 – “In these first disciples was presented a marked diversity. They were to be world’s teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. There were Levi Matthew the publican,called from a life of business activity, and subservience to Rome; the zealot Simon, uncompromising foe of the impérial authority; the impulsive, Peter, with Andrew his brother; Judas the Judean, polished, capable and mean-spirited; Philip and Thomas, faithful and earnest, yet slow of heart to believe; James the less and Jude, of less prominence among the brethren, but men of force, positive both in their faults and in their virtues; Nathanael, a child in sincerity and trust; and the ambitious, loving-hearted sons of Zebedee.” Ed 85

None were perfect – All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called “thé sons of thunder.” While they were with Jésus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were ail in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in thé kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jésus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to thé divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of thé Saviour’s words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear thé yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.” DA 295/6

“In order successfully to carry forward the work to which they had been called, these disciples, differing so widely in natural characteristics, in training, and in habits of life, needed to corne into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was Christ’s object to secure. To this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to thé Father, “that they ail 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 know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:21-23.” Ed86

“The preaching of the gospel is God’s chosen agency for thé salvation of souls. But our first work should be to bring our
own hearts into harmony with God, and then we are prepared to labor for others.” 5T 87,88

“The spirit of Christ will be revealed in ail who are born of God. Strife and contention cannot arise among those who
are controlled by His Spirit. “Be ye clean, that bear thé vessels of thé Lord.” …When thé teachers are sanctified, soûl, body, and spirit, they can impress upon thé people thé importance of such sanctification.” 5T 227

“Jésus reproved His disciples, He warned and cautioned them; but John and his brethren did not leave Him; they chose
Jésus, notwithstanding thé reproofs. The Saviour did not withdraw from them because of their weakness and errors. They continued to thé end to share His trials and to learn thé lessons of His life. By beholding Christ, they became transformed in character.” DA296

In thé apostles of our Lord there was nothing to bring glory to themselves. It was evidence that thé success of their labours was due only to God. The lives of thèse men, thé characters they developed, and thé mighty work that God wrought through them, are a testimony to what He will do for ail who are teachable and obedient.
AMEN

Golden Kawaya Hingabantu, Zambia