Realizing Our Unity in Christ

It always amazed me that, in my seminary readings, theologians entrusted with the clear preaching of God’s Word can be so complex and confusing. Seriously. Did you know that the word used by theologians to describe the ability of believers to understand the Scriptures is “perspicuity?” Doesn’t that seem ironic? A word few can define, let alone barely pronounce, to explain the understandability of the Scriptures. Nice.

However, while we’re at it, let me throw two more TheologianSpeak words at you: eschatology and ecclesiology. After all, I had to learn this stuff and the Apostle Paul said that you should share in my sufferings. Welcome.

“Eschatology” is a fancy pants word for the study of the end times or, more literally, the “last things.” “Ecclesiology” is the study of ecclesiastical things – i.e. church stuff. So, placed together, the study of eschatological ecclesiology is the study of the destiny of the Church. It seeks to answer at least two practical questions: what will the Church ultimately become at the end of time, and how can we move toward the fuller realization of that destiny, here and now?

A blog post is a venue too small for a comprehensive answer to these questions, and this is not an edited work of theology. However, there are a few themes that I find encouraging and hope you might as well. To get there, consider this vision of the fully realized Church, described by the Apostle John in Revelation:

9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

This is the Church at the end of the age. What does this vision of the Church look like? How can we become more like it? Just a few observations:

Proclaiming the Gospel Together

First, notice that the Church at the end of the age proclaims the true Gospel (literally, “good news”). They affirm the Gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to God’s glory alone. They shout, “Salvation belongs to our God.” They know that it is not the work of their hands, the product of their efforts. They’re not before their throne, citing their religious resumes – how many times they went to mass, gave to charity, or helped old ladies across the street. Rather, in faith, they praise “the Lamb” alone – the unblemished One that died for them, in their place on the cross at Calvary. For them, Jesus is not one savior among many others; there is no other option. They mention no one else, just the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Accordingly, they afford “praise and glory” to God – and God alone.

Living the Gospel Together

Secondly, notice that they experienced the reconciliation produced by the true Gospel. Although once “enemies” of God, wicked, and subject to his wrath, they now wear Christ’s righteousness like a white robe (Colossians 1:21). They are holy, and can stand in God’s holy presence without fear of divine punishment. In the words of the writer of Hebrews, they can “boldly approach the throne of grace, expecting to receive mercy” (Hebrews 4:16). But not only does God reconcile them to himself. By consequence, he reconciles them to each other. Drawn to Christ in love, they come together before his throne. Every earthly distinction fades from view – those of language, nationality, tribe, gender, education, economics, societal status, and more – before the all-surpassing beauty of their fellowship with God. There are no more denominations, no more congregations, and no more idols cherished above the incomparable love of Christ.

Enjoying the Gospel Together

Finally, just as there is no outward division, there is no longer inward division. God’s people no longer strive in the Spirit against a sinful nature. This beautiful expression of worship is therefore not the product of false motives, expectations, or pressures. They are with God because they want to be; it is the earnest desire of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. There is total attendance at this service; no one is missing. There is total investment; no one is inhibited or withholding. They shout, wave branches, and make a holy ruckus. In short, they enjoy themselves by enjoying God.

Toward a Fuller Realization of Our Hope

The following is a list of things that I think can help us move toward a fuller albeit imperfect realization of this precious hope for the Church in the here and now. While none of its shocking (unlike some pastor-theologians, I think novelty in theology is the surest sign of impending ruin), it’s somewhat revolutionary. 

1.) We need to strive in prayer for our brothers and sisters across denominational lines, consistently and aggressively.

Christ prayed for our unity in his final “high priestly prayer” (John 17). Hyper-spiritualizing this divine cry (i.e. saying that we’re already one “spiritually” and don’t need to strive toward visible unity) is a low-minded betrayal of Christ’s obvious hope for us. If we’re increasingly one spiritually, doesn’t it make sense that we would become increasingly one in most every other sense? Our Lord desired that we be one, as he and the Father are one. That is a much more radical vision than the cheap one for which we’ve settled.

2.) We need to preach and prioritize the true Gospel in our ministries.

Augustine was right, and we should live by his Scriptural maxim, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” The Gospel defines the essentials of the Christian faith. If a doctrine or belief systemically compromises the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s a heresy and has no place in the Church. We should resoundingly reject it and remove its unrepentant preachers.

However, if divergent beliefs don’t fundamentally strike at the Gospel, brothers and sisters can lovingly and prayerfully search the Scriptures together for more unifying answers - even while graciously disagreeing. When we elevate secondary issues to those of primary importance, we invariably become contentious and divisive. We also go beyond Scripture, God’s Word that very clearly affords liberty among those of varying levels of spiritual maturity.

3.) We need to reveal and reject our denominational idolatries.

I am a very proud Presbyterian, and I love and adore my denomination: the Presbyterian Church in America. It’s done a lot right over the years. One of its greatest contributions, in my humble estimation, is faithfully holding to a Confession that says that all churches under heaven are messed up to one degree or another – i.e. no one is perfect (Westminster Confession of Faith, 25:5). That realization should strip me of the prideful desire to demean another group of brothers and sisters for their imperfections. If my being “right” on some matter of doctrine compels me to disregard or demean my brother, I don’t really know what I think I do. In the words of Paul, “if I have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13). 

4.) We need to enjoy the means of God’s grace together.

John’s vision of the throne shows us that drawing nearer to God means drawing nearer to each other. While particular congregations are a practical necessity and God’s plan for pastoral care, they should do more to promote Gospel unity than preclude it.

Conclusion: The Practical Example of Community Bible Study

Let me close with a practical expression of some of these drives.

Several years ago, as I began my pastorate at Murrysville Community Church, I heard of a ministry called Community Bible Study (CBS). It involved Christians from all community churches, and the leaders were very careful to make sure that no one promotes or demeans a particular congregation. Rather, it was and remains an occasion for believers to routinely fellowship, pray, and study the Word with unity on essentials, liberty on non-essentials, and charity in all things.

At first, I thought that CBS would compete with rather than complement our ministry. After all, if people attended Bible study at CBS they were not going to attend our own church-based studies, right? Wrong. The encouragement CBS participants received from each other, God’s Word, and the Spirit through prayer deepened their excitement for and commitment to their local churches. And these churches, by consequence, became more and more connectional through the organic fellowship shared by their members. Increased unity brought blessing: many became true believers in Christ, something that Christ clearly taught would happen. In fact, it's just as Jesus prayed: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).

All of this strengthened my conviction that if we want the world to get to know him, we need to know each other. Together, let us pray and work for the Gospel unity of Christ’s Church. Our community and world may never be the same.