Unity

“a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.

There is much talk of unity in our world today. Political leaders want to unite with other Political leaders to create a stronger power base in order to protect themselves from an enemy who may try to attack them. The more allies a nation has, the stronger and more confident they will be, and unfortunately, as seen in the past, this has not always had a positive result. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Religionists are also trying to unite under one banner. There has been much animosity and fighting due to differences in religious beliefs in the past and now they are trying to put this all behind them and unite with each other. Unfortunately here again is a problem in that they are not attempting to unite under the banner of truth. They are giving up the truth in order to unite on only points they have in common, which are not very many (spiritualism and Sunday sacredness are the main common issues). While unity is a good thing, if it is not used correctly it can corrupt one or both of the parties uniting as more often than not, at least one party is forced to change its way of thinking for the sake of unity. Unity in diversity is a foreign concept to the worldly mind. It is not possible, except with Christ in the centre of the organization.

Greater trouble comes to this earth when Political leaders try to unite with religionists. Constantine tried this many hundreds of years ago in order to obtain more allies so he could win the war. It worked. He became a “Christian” in order to bring the rest of the Christians into his army. With the combined forces of the Christians and Pagans he won the war. Unfortunately, Christianity became corrupted. This total political and religious unity will again exist on this earth in the near future (as existed in the Dark Ages) and then God’s people will be branded as rebels for they will have nothing to do with this unity. But God wants unity within the borders of His church. This is the only way that the organization can run smoothly. However there are great warnings in the Bible regarding uniting with worldlyminded people and organizations. It is strictly forbidden.

When there is unity within the church of God, Satan knows that this unity brings strength that he cannot fight against. If we read the record of God’s church from the beginning we can see how this unity brought great strength to God’s people. Let’s go back to Ancient Israel in the wilderness and their conquest of Canaan. They were a minority – a small people – however when they were united in the truth, God worked miracles for them that completely perplexed their enemies. When there was no unity in Israel and they all did as they pleased, serving their false gods of wood and stone, their enemies came in and caused them a lot of trouble.

Then we can read of the history of the church after the time of the Apostles – during the time prophesied by the seven churches. There was a continual rising and falling in the Christian church. When the church began to compromise and unite with the world, many departed from the faith and the spiritual strength of the church grew weaker. Eventually the majority left the purity of the truth in order to maintain this unity, however there was always a small remnant that would refuse to unite in this compromise situation and they were persecuted as rebels.

God’s true followers have always been a remnant. There has always been a small group that would not unite with the world, but as they remain united with Christ within the church, this small remnant had a great power with them that Satan and all his forces could not conquer.

This small remnant has had a great influence in the world as the forces of evil could not quench their spirit while they remained united in truth. Satan is mustering all his energies to destroy God’s church in the last days of this earth’s history. He knows that the best way he can conquer is to try to come inside and disrupt the unity. He has brought in men who were not converted to the truth and whose righteousness was only self-righteousness. They don’t remain very long. God keeps His church pure as the faithful members pray for unity and do what they can on their part to keep this unity of
truth together. It is very important to keep this unity.

WHAT DOES TRUE UNITY ENTAIL?

“We are now to unify….But let us remember that Christian unity does not mean that the identity of one person is to be submerged in that of another; nor does it mean that the mind of one is to be led and controlled by the mind of another.

God has not given to any man the power that some, by word and act, seek to claim. God requires every man to stand free and to follow the directions of the word.” 8T, p. 212.

“We are in this world to help one another. In Christ’s work there were not territorial lines, and those who attempt to make such lines in His work today might better pray: “Lord, give me a new heart.” 7T, p. 240.

FALSE DOCTRINES

When members within the church begin teaching false doctrines, they have been known to act in one of two ways.

1) Some leave the church willingly and either go to another church, or create their own church, claiming that they have now received new light and are on a higher plane of existence than those remaining in God’s church.

2) Others will remain in the church to try to convert the existing members to their own view of false doctrine – they don’t want to leave – they would rather work on the church members. Unless they give up their false doctrines, the church has a duty to separate their membership from the church. They can’t remain a member. Not even God would tolerate false doctrine in His midst and so there was WAR hi heaven. God could not keep fallen angels in. They were finally disfellowshipped

NECESSARY SEPARATION

Does God separate people from His church? He allows it to happen as in the case of rebellion. Separation is a part of God’s permissive will, it is not a part of His perfect will. God wants everyone to be one happy united family, however sometimes a separation must occur – a shaking we call it, in order to keep His church pure. This is His permissive will.

1) Satan was cast out of heaven when he continued his rebellious activities amongst the angels in the heavenly courts.

2) Korah, Dathan and Abiram were killed with their families and followers when they rebelled against the authority that God had entrusted to Moses. They were, in reality, rejecting God.

As in the case of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, in 1951 a group of leaders rebelled against the authority of the leaders in God’s church. They refused to accept the leaders that God had placed in position so they left, and God allowed them to leave.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:19. They went out and created a new organization, however it is a counterfeit organization. As in the case of counterfeit money, it is often difficult to tell the difference between the real from the false, except for the trained eye, so also in the case of this counterfeit religious movement. To the untrained eye, they look the same.

Adventists have, on occasion, ridiculed the Reform church as all they can see is a schism in the church caused by the inability of leaders to get along. They cannot differentiate between the two. We need to be trained by the Holy Spirit and the truth will be clear.

There has been some talk about uniting the two churches, and 10 years ago it was spoken about quite seriously, however God has not allowed unity as a whole. He has not allowed the genuine to unite with the counterfeit.

As far as the group who departed in 1951 is concerned, they chose to leave and therefore how can we accept them as a whole ? – “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Mat. 19:6.

Could we not say the converse is also true – what God has separated, let no man try to put back together?
In heaven, before they were cast out, there was an individual call to each of the angels to make a decision to return and some of them did return. They simply could not be accepted back as a whole group.

The same is true with any false religious organisation. There are honest souls in other churches and it is our duty to preach the Loud Cry message telling them to, “Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” It doesn’t say, “Let’s unite our churches and throw down any barriers that separate us”, no it says “come out” and where are they to come out to? To God’s church of course.

Satan will always attempt to create rebellion in the midst of God’s church, but we must believe that God is in control and He will take care to keep His church pure. Those that rebel, will be shaken out unless they repent. Even in heaven God could not keep rebellion from arising in His “church”. There was war in heaven and therefore He drove the rebels out when they refused to repent. He gave much time, effort and love to try to win the rebellious ones back, but they refused so He had no choice but to remove them from His church. We can’t always keep rebels in either – nor should we invite rebels back unless they repent. Yet we are still to try to reach them and warn them of the danger they are in. If they refuse to listen then finally let them go. Leave them in the hands of the Lord. Satan will cause rebellions to arise as he is constantly on the alert to try to destroy God’s church, however the rebels will be separated to preserve the peace and unity within the church. Some feel that it is heartless to separate those that cause trouble and rebellion. But just look at the SDA church with every wind of doctrine arising in the past from people like Brinsmead, the Shepherd’s Rod group, Desmond Ford. All these false theories and movements are tolerated and these people are allowed to remain as members. This is also true in many churches composing Babylon today and it is a very difficult environment for a person to grow spiritually. In heaven God knew the result that would occur by allowing rebels to remain – those who consistently teach false doctrines or reject the authority of the leaders that He has appointed. Was God heartless in casting Satan and his host from heaven? Were they ever invited back? Satan’s probation ended before that of his followers.

Of his followers it is said, “Many were disposed to heed this counsel, to repent of their disaffection, and seek to be again received in favour with the Father and His Son. But Lucifer had another deception ready. The mighty revolter now declared that the angels who had united with him had gone too far to return; that he was acquainted with the divine law, and knew that God would not forgive. He had declared that all who should submit to the authority of Heaven would be stripped of their honour, degraded from their position. For himself, he was determined never again to acknowledge the authority of Christ. The only course remaining for him and his followers, he said, was to assert their liberty, and gain by force the rights, which had not been willingly accorded them. “So far as Satan himself was concerned, it was true that he had now gone too far to return. But not so with those who had been blinded by bis deceptions. To them the counsel and entreaties of the loyal angels opened a door of hope; and had they heeded the warning, they might have broken away from the snare of Satan. But pride, love for their leader, and the desire for unrestricted freedom were permitted to bear sway, and the pleadings of divine love and mercy were finally rejected.” PP, p. 40,41.

The fallen angels could never be have been taken back as a whole unit, however Jesus was individually calling them to come back. Some of them did return but many still followed their new leader blindly. Rebellion is a difficult weed to uproot. They had rebelled against the authority of God.

“There is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers.” GC, p. 45.

While God is shaking the unconverted from His church today, He is at the same time calling for the honest in heart in false religious movements to come out of their organizations and fill the places of those shaken out.

THE POINT OF NO RETURN

When Satan and his host were cast out of heaven, they had reached the point of no return. When Adam and Eve sinned, the Son of God stretched out His arm to rescue man. “He left the fallen angles to perish in their rebellion, but stretched forth His hand to rescue perishing man. The angels who were rebellious were dealt with according to the light and experience they had abundantly enjoyed in heaven. Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, once had an exalted position in heaven. He was next in honour to Christ. The knowledge, which he, as well as the angels who fell with him, had of the character of God, of His goodness, His mercy, wisdom, and excellent glory, made their guilt unpardonable.

“There was no possible hope for the redemption of those who had witnessed and enjoyed the inexpressible glory of heaven, and had seen the terrible majesty of God, and, in presence of all this glory, had rebelled against Him. There were no new and wonderful exhibitions of God’s exalted power that could impress them so deeply as those they had already experienced. If they could rebel in the very presence of glory inexpressible, they could not be placed in a more favourable condition to be proved. There was no reserve force of power, nor were there any greater heights and depths of infinite glory to overpower their jealous doubts and rebellious murmuring. Their guilt and their punishment must be in proportion to their exalted privileges in the heavenly courts.” Confrontation, p. 21.

Is it possible for mere human beings to reach the point of no return?
Contrary to popular Christian theology where they believe that we serve a merciful God who will never cast off guilty sinners, yes, there is a point of no return. “There is an unseen line that crosses every man’s path. The line between God’s patience and His wrath.” Yes, God is merciful but when His mercy and love is rejected by sinners who choose to travel their own path in rebellion against His authority in their lives, He will finally leave them to reap the harvest of the fruit they have borne. He will no longer protect them from the evil in this world.

WHEN NOT TO SEPARATE

In many Christian organizations in the Western world we see a separation occurring due to cultural differences and languages. We see a Spanish church, a Chinese church, or a French church. This is not God’s will. Sister White addressed this issue at the European Union Council, hi Basel Switzerland, September 24, 1885. “Since these meetings began, I felt urged to dwell much upon love and faith.

This is because you need this testimony. Some who have entered these missionary fields have said: ‘you do not understand the French people; you do not understand the Germans. They have to be met in just such a way’ “But I inquire: Does not God understand them? Is it not He who gives His servants a message for the people? He knows just what they need; and if the message comes directly from Him through His servants to the people, it will accomplish the work whereunto it is sent; it will make all one in Christ. Though some are decidedly French, others decidedly German, and others decidedly American, they will be just as decidedly Christlike

“There is no person, no nation, that is perfect in every habit and thought. One must learn of another. Therefore God wants the different nationalities to mingle together, to be one in judgment, one in purpose. Then the union that there is in Christ will be exemplified.” 9T, p. 179,180.

There are times when individuals decide to separate from God’s church rather than groups. What must be done to bring them back again? They have severed their connection – or simply backslidden for a time. Should they be left alone to find their way back? “And when some were disposed to reject their counsel and separate from them, they would say: “Well, if they want to go off, let them go.” While such a lack of the compassion, and longsuffering, and tenderness of Jesus was manifested by His professed followers. these poor, erring, inexperienced souls, buffeted by Satan, were certain to make shipwreck of faith. However great may be the wrongs and sins of the erring, our brethren must learn to manifest not only the tenderness of the Great Shepherd, but also His undying care and love for the poor, straying sheep. Our ministers toil and lecture week after week, and rejoice that a few souls embrace the truth; and yet brethren of a prompt, decided turn of mind may, in five minutes destroy their work by indulging the feelings which prompt words like these: “Well, if they want to leave us, let them go.” 2T, p. 18,19.

We must make earnest efforts to bring them back to the fold of safety within the borders of the church of God. We are all in the family of God and when one strays the rest feel the loss. Let us bind together in spiritual unity and reach out to the fallen and discouraged ones.

HOW TO MAINTAIN UNITY IN THE CHURCH

“Though we have an individual work and an individual responsibility before God, we are not to follow our own independent 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.

Some are inclined to be disorderly, and are drifting away from the great landmarks of the faith; but God is moving upon His ministers to be one in doctrine and in spirit. “It is necessary that our unity today be of a character that will bear the test of trial. .. We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed. ‘”When a brother receives new light upon the Scriptures, he should frankly explain his position, and every minister should search the Scriptures with the spirit of candour to see if the points presented can be substantiated by the Inspired Word.”TM, p. 30,31.

“Strive earnestly for unity. Pray for it, work for it. It will bring spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility of character, heavenlymindedness, enabling you to overcome selfishness and evil sunnisings, and to be more than conquerors through Him that loved you had gave Himself for you. Crucify self; esteem others better than yourselves. Thus you will be brought into oneness with Christ. Before the heavenly universe, and before the church and the world, you will bear unmistakable evidence that you are God’s sons and daughters. God will be glorified in the example that you set.

“The world needs to see worked out before il the miracle that binds the hearts of God’s people together in Christian love. It needs to see the Lord’s people together in heavenly places in Christ. Will you not give in your lives an evidence of what the truth of God can do for those who love and serve Him? God knows what you can be. He knows what divine grace can do for you if you will be partakers of diving nature.” 9T, p. 188. The call goes out to all sincere Christians in the world to unite together under Christ’s banner of truth. Let us be faithful to doing our part in cooperation with heavenly agencies and maintaining unity within the borders of God’s church.

Wendy Eaton