Let’s Speak The Same Thing!
In our small community, it's impossible to drive any substantial distance without seeing a building where a congregation of people meet to worship God. Some of these buildings are large and beautiful. Some are plain and simple. Some are old, historic landmarks in the community, while others are beautiful new constructions. In front of each building is a sign advertising the name that group identifies with. By basic evaluation we can determine that there must be some point of division between these groups. We wonder why there are so many different names to describe what the New Testament calls the church. In fact the Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, taught that “there is one body” (Ephesians 4:4). If there is but one body, could King Jesus possibly be pleased with the divisions that exist?
An honest look at Jesus’ teachings and prayers concerning His church will answer that question. In John 17, Jesus was praying to His Father about those who would believe in Him. After praying specifically for His Apostles, He continued, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:21-23)
It’s clear from this prayer of our Lord that He desires for us to have no divisions among us. So, what is it that divides us? If you’ve visited a number of different churches in our community, watched their sermons online, or had conversations with their members, the reason for the division becomes clear. On questions of worship and doctrine, there are a number of disagreements and misunderstandings about the word of God. Although there are churches that meet directly across the street from one another, they are often a million miles apart in doctrine. We look at our current situation with dozens of different beliefs in one community, all claiming to serve the same King, and we realize what a mess we have made of things. This is not what Jesus prayed for. This is not what Jesus commanded. This is not what Jesus suffered and shed His blood for.
No question about it, there is a major problem, but what can be done to fix it? We can’t fix it unless we know where the division came from. The word of God is the source of all truth. In this same prayer, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) No one can claim that every church is right without contradicting the clear teachings of the scriptures. There is one body.
If the word is true, the issue is not with the word. The issue is with those who have either ignored, misunderstood, added to, or taken away from the word. In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the Holy Spirit says, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
How can we restore what has been divided? How can we repair what has been broken? How can we be sure that we are a part of the ONE BODY, surrendering to The ONE LORD, sharing ONE FAITH, buried with Christ in ONE BAPTISM, and serving The ONE GOD AND FATHER of all? We must go back to the scriptures and allow them ALONE to speak. If we want to be added to the one church that Jesus established and serve Him as He commands, we must meet Him in God’s perfect word. If we use our own ideas, trust our own feelings, or blindly follow the teachings of a man simply because he is a preacher, we are going to miss it.
Let’s go back to the Bible! Let’s ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and there we will find salvation and rest for our souls. If you’ve taken the time to read this and you’re tired of the division, you're upset about the prominence of self-seeking worship and the doctrines of men being taught from pulpit to pulpit, join the work toward unity through the blood of Jesus Christ and by trusting the perfect word of God. Please reach out to me if you'd like to study the Bible together. Let’s all speak the same thing, as Jesus wants us to do!
- Eric Bullock, Evangelist
