Beloved,
Part 1 can be found here:
UNITY: FINDING THE LORD’S MIND TOGETHER – PART 1 [MONDAY MANNA 148]
Last time we explored the doctrine of unity around Christ, the Head of the Father’s true and real body. We mentioned the following, if you recall:
“Does Paul say it’s perfectly acceptable to blow off your brethren and just walk away because they think differently than you? To reject them without working it out week by week, say, when they vote differently? When they don’t vote at all? When they do speak in tongues, or don’t speak in tongues? When they believe in 5 point Calvinism, or are considered flaming Armanians? When they’re desperately trying to explain their doctrine of the role of women, or money, or loving your enemies, or divorce, or not being once saved always saved, or selling your possessions giving your money to the poor, etc., etc., etc, and etc.?
“Do you say to them, or worse, just think, “It’s final! My way or the highway!”? And then break fellowship for no Biblical reason? Would Jesus consider you irreconcilable? Now, that’s a huge problem.”
In pleasing the Lord in all ways, we must ask for more grace to discern the enemy’s schemes of being irreconcilable. The trouble with his schemes is that, well, they’re “schemey” meaning they’re not obvious. As a matter of fact, over time if not corrected, sin becomes normal to the person while holiness then appears legalistic.
What a role reversal…
You may want to ask the Holy Spirit if He desires you to reflect and study all the times He makes a point in the Bible about unity and the stories illustrating this precious pleasure.
As we pointed out last time, practicing irreconcilability leads the body to avoid that person, hoping they repent and be restored to the fold. If not, an eternal, unquenchable fire awaits them. It’s a frightening thought. God is merciful and patient, but it only lasts so long.
In the end, He never negotiates His holiness.
Let’s take a final look at the unity study our body collaborated on several years ago. I’ve included the entire study with the words “PART 2” indicating where I left off last time. Enjoy! And…be sure you and your groups pray about how you might better serve the Master in this area. Please let us know here at Walk Worthy what the Spirit does in victorious overcoming with you all.
Finding the mind of the Lord – Unity Lessons from the Acts 15 gathering
Part 1 – please skip this to reach Part 2 below, but we encourage you to re-read it again:
Our goal as overcomers in loving Jesus is acting like Jesus by keeping (tereo) his commandments (rules):
1 John 2:3-6
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Then we bring glory to the Father:
John 17:4
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me
One of the main ways we receive His glory now on this earth (John 17.22, 2 Cor. 3.18, 1 Pt. 1.8, Rom. 8.30, Psalm 8.5, etc.), and then bring glory to Him, is being perfected in unity, especially when we disagree, so that the unsaved world can be led back to God:
John 17:22-23
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
It might be sequenced like this:
- glory from God now: then when…
- disagreement arises: we must be…
- finding the Lord’s mind: which will allow us to be…
- perfected in unity: which then brings…
- glory back to God: so then the…
- unsaved world sees God loves us and Jesus: to result in the…
- unsaved led back to Him: which fulfills the eternal purpose of God!
Acts 15 situation: reoccurring disagreement over Gentiles salvation (also see Acts 11.2 earlier), i.e. law or grace, how are they saved?
Observations from the narrative:
Verse 1 – Judean men come to Antioch and begin falsely teaching the brethren Gentiles you must be circumcised to be saved
V 2 – Paul (P) and Barnabas (B) have great dissension (rigorous debate) with Judean men; the brethren, WHOLE CHURCH in Antioch, are involved in decision to send them to Jerusalem to apostles and elders there
Note: the same Greek word used to: 1) describe dissention here in V 2 is also used in the Gospels in Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19, Luke 23:25; 2) describe a riot in Acts 19:40, and 3) more dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, Paul and crowds in Acts 23:7, Acts 23:10, Acts 24:5
V 3 – great joy as P & B relay the Gentiles conversion; notice no mention of any complaints over the debate
V 4 – P & B welcomed and received by the church and the apostles and elders
V 6, 7 – Much debate between P & B and apostles and elders
V 12 – “All the people” indicates the whole gathering, the body, was there (see v 4) as P & B relay signs and wonders God performed among Gentiles, a proof of His pleasure in them
V 13 – James waits until after P & B had stopped speaking, assuming uninterrupted speech
V 22 – Seemed “good” (vs. direct speaking from Holy Spirit like Acts 13.2) to apostles, elders, with whole gathering to choose other men to accompany P & B back to Antioch with the letter detailing the 3 points
The Church’s Decree, Craig Keener in IVP Bible Background Commentary
15:22. When views were disputed in the later rabbinic academies, the majority view always prevailed; here a partial compromise (in favor of the Antioch church) seems to command consensus. Other Jewish groups also had “general sessions,” such as at Qumran, where the priests, elders and people would gather.
V 25 – “having become ONE MIND” – they worked at it, some maybe putting aside their claims in favor on a broader unity
V 31 – whole Antioch congregation gathered, and greatly rejoiced because of its encouragement
Their methods were reflective of the kingdom of God:
- Wanted and went seeking the Lord’s mind, the Truth
- Humble in heart, poor in spirit, but not silent or shy and retiring
- Listened and questioned – seek to understand first, then to be understood
- Discuss, debate, “not a little” the Word says in V 2
- Willing to put aside some differences, but not put aside sin in peoples life, i.e. not OK to let the Judeans keep preaching that false message, or people trying to live it
- Prayer, council, get opinions
And…the first possible church split is avoided!
Part 2
Here’s 4 worldly methods of “dealing” with disagreement that are reflective of the kingdom of the world:
1. Quietly disappear, but not after first “discussing” the parties “faults” behind their back with no intention of collectively seeking the mind of the Lord for unity
2. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right), then disappear
3. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right), then leave, others leave too but go separate ways
4. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right) then disappear, taking others to form new group
Finding His mind, i.e. getting from Point A to B with all parties takes time, patiently loving each other to hear each other out; accepting one another, being subject to one another, teaching one another, admonishing one another = loving one another.
…Or:
a) arrogantly thinking our way is the only way and one needs to first convince the other person that he is wrong, i.e. it’s going from Point A (the disagreement) to your personal Point B without open and protracted debate, then the debate goes on and on from B, to B, to B, or..
b) the alternative often happens when people cave in before an agreement is reached (becoming “peacekeepers” vs. peacemakers), causing a false consensus to appear in the interest of real agreement. In either case, the disagreement is never resolved, and we efface the glory of God by our eventual disunity.
How might we find the Lord’s mind, then?
Active Listening is the key:
1. Accept one another (except perhaps a proven evil worker or dog) until they prove unworthy of your attention and focus
2. Have some meals together, celebrate Jesus, and His kingdom
3. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
4. Give full attention:
- make eye contact,
- acknowledge the words spoken
- Don’t just wait to talk, i.e. staring off to think of a response, shuffle through Bible, maybe seeing how you might top the story
5. Be patient by letting them finish, don’t interrupt
6. Ask questions to clarify their position and opinion
7. Repeat their position back to them for complete understanding
8. Pause before response
9. Confirm your love for them
10. Don’t agree if you don’t
11. OK to ask others for advice
12. Ask if they care to look in the holy Word, may take a lot of time and several sessions
13. Pray to Jesus for help from His Holy Spirit
Remember:
- Be at peace with all men as much as it depends on you.
- Most American’s have been taught to convince you you’re wrong and they’re right, and to reject you when you don’t agree with them.
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The Peacemaker – by Ken Sande
Resolving conflict – Four basic principles:
1) Glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Biblical peacemaking is motivated and directed by a desire to please and honor God. His interests, reputations, and commands should take precedence over all other considerations. This focus not only shows our love and respect for God but also protects us from the impulsive, self-centered decisions that make conflicts even worse.
2) Get the log out of your eye (Matt. 7:5). Peacemaking requires facing up to our own attitudes, faults, and responsibilities before pointing out what others have done wrong. Overlooking the minor offenses of others and honestly admitting our own faults often will encourage similar responses from our opponents and open the way for candid dialogue, reconciliation, and constructive negotiation.
3) Go and show your brother his fault (Matt. 18:15). At times peacemaking also requires constructive confrontation. When others fail to accept responsibility for their actions, we may need to confront them in a gracious yet firm manner. If they refuse to respond appropriately, we may need to involve respected friends, church leaders, or other neutral individuals who can help restore peace.
4) Go and be reconciled (Matt. 5:24). Finally, peacemaking involves a commitment to restoring damaged relationships and developing agreements that are just and satisfactory to everyone involved. Forgiveness and cooperative negotiation clear away the debris left by conflict and make possible reconciliation and genuine peace
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
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