For those of you who are new readers, I blogged a lot on UNITY in the early days of this blog! Unity is near and dear to my heart though it’s a struggle for me at times. I have to fight to keep unity just as you do, too, I’m sure!
I love unity in the body of Christ. I love that the Bible and biblical discipleship can be unifying. I love that what we do at TIL is unifying the body of Christ. Want proof that TIL is unifying?
How many ministries can say that they have taught at methodist, baptist, christian & missionary alliance denomination, a national conference uniting all denominations (like Mennonites, charismatics, Bible churches, presbyterian, and a broad mixture of other groups), and non-denominational churches this year? How many? By the grace of God, TIL can. We also have many of our biblical counselors who come from a variety of churches and denominations! Praise the Lord for His unity!
Our message is unifying: the Holy Spirit and God’s Word TRANSFORM hurting souls for the glory of God through His body (the church) all over the WORLD and secular, psychological so-called “help” is NOT needed since Christ alone is enough to solve a person’s problems. That’s it. That’s the basic message we promote. We don’t get into eschatology, baptism, Calvinism, Arminianism, and other such potentially divisive topics. We just don’t.
We are NOT for unity at the cost of compromising the GOSPEL. The Gospel and the Word of God must NEVER be compromised!
We long for unity in the body of Christ and experience it some in TIL. When are we going to cut down denominational lines and unite around the essentials of our faith? When? Is God pleased with all of this division? He’s allowing it but is it pleasing to Him?
TIL is “eager to maintain unity” and peace in the Spirit of the Lord.
Ephesians 4:1-3 COMMANDS Christians to be eager to maintain UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace – it’s not a suggestion, but a command: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.**
Let’s put away religion and division and in-fighting of mankind and find unity in Christ alone for the sole purpose of reaching Birmingham to eventually reach the world for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
** The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eph 4:1-3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
-Mark (worn out by all of the division I see among the brethren)