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Best Unity Practices
Posted by David Rogers in Baptist Life, Church & Missions
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3.
Those who follow my blog Love Each Stone will know that I dedicate a large portion of what I write to the topic of unity in the Body of Christ. This is due to several reasons. First of all, the Bible itself, especially in the New Testament passages dealing with the church, gives a significant emphasis to this theme. In Southern Baptist life, however, I am convinced that we, in general, give less emphasis to unity than the Bible does. And, whenever the topic of unity is addressed, it is almost always in the context of unity within a local congregation, or within the denomination as a whole.
Neither of these is bad in itself. Both local congregations and denominations are certainly important forums in which the fundamental unity we share as members of the Body of Christ ought to be put into practice. But I am convinced that, when we neglect to talk about and “make every effort” to put into practice our essential unity with the entire Body of Christ, especially in the locality where we live and minister, we run the risk of being unbalanced and possibly even misguided in our efforts.
In my experience over the last 17 years on the mission field in Spain, I have been able to observe several ways in which this unity has been expressed that are perhaps not always the norm, either here in the States, or in some other ministry contexts around the world. I share these not to brag about what I have done or experienced, but rather, in the hope that they may somehow help us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
After reading this, I think it would be wonderful if some of you could “kick in” and share as well about some of the ways you have been able to experience the unity of the Spirit put into practice among the entire Body of Christ in the context in which you minister.
1. Regular monthly prayer meetings with the other pastors in the city.
2. Joint worship services, one Friday evening a month, rotating between the various churches, with shared participation from the pastors and members of the various churches.
3. Joint annual church retreats.
4. Joint sponsorship of evangelistic campaigns and events in the city.
5. Encouraging the members of your church to attend and support the evangelistic events and special activities organized by other churches in your city.
6. Pulpit exchanges.
7. Joint picnics and other fellowship events.
8. The March for Jesus, with the joint participation of all of the evangelical believers in the region.
9. Joint prayer-walks, with the participation of believers and leaders of various churches, praying together for God’s blessing over your city.
What experiences can you add to this list?
How have these experiences been a blessing and helped to contribute to the advance of God’s kingdom in your locality?
What have been some of the challenges you have faced when encouraging unity with other churches and believers in your locality?
Do you think there are any pitfalls to be avoided, when seeking to “keep the unity of the Spirit” with other churches and believers in your locality?
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Brother David,
I certainly do not want to sound nit picky on this, but I must ask a question. Are you not the same David that stated: “Is that what we are really about as Southern Baptists? Converting Methodists over “to our side”? If so, I think we’ve got our priorities mixed up.” concerning a Methodist church deciding to become Southern Baptist?
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
I am one and the same. From my perspective, this post and that comment go hand in hand. Do you see a contradiction?
how do you exchange pulpits with a methodist woman pastor who doesnt believe that the miracles are true?
how do you have joint worship services with pentecostals who are falling in the floor and speaking in ecstatic utterances so loud that you cant hear yourself think?
how do you join in any kind of joint evangelistic campaign with the campbellite churches of christ type churhes, when they believe in salvation by works?
how do you let a presbyterian minister get up in your pulpit in a joint thanksgiving service, or something, to preach paedo-baptism; or a pres. usa speak about the evils of conservative politics in our nation?
david, i really think you should rethink your ecumenical philosophy. while i agree that there are other good, sound churches out there beyond the sbc, there are also many who are just too unsound and erroneous, and even verge on being heretical for us to “join” with them. also, i want you and others to know that i do try to be a friend to other pastors and members of other denominations in my area. i love them in the Lord. i treat them with kindness and respect. and, i will join with them in prayer for our country, etc. but, i’d be very careful about who i’d let preach in my pulpit, or who i would join with in evangelistic campaigns…and, i believe that sb ought to start churches that are sound…if we give others input, how can we make sure that we’re spending our time, efforts, prayers, and money on a church start that will be sound…biblically sound?
david
David (Volfan) Worley,
Regarding the specific examples you give, I don’t think, when it came down to it, you and I would be that far apart on the decisions we would make. I, like you, have strong convictions about guarding doctrinal integrity, and protecting the sheep from wolves.
The question I have, though, to what degree are we truly obeying the biblical injunction to “make EVERY EFFORT to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”? Sometimes, it seems to me, we see all of the difficulties and complications involved, so we just revert back to the path of least resistance, sticking with those most like us, with whom we feel most comfortable.
If we are to be true to what the Bible teaches, I believe we must first ask ourselves very seriously what the Bible teaches about unity. Then, we must ask ourselves if we are really being faithful, both in our attitudes and in our practice, to what it teaches.
I am NOT arguing in favor of compromising on biblical convictions. Rather, I am calling us to account for neglecting a biblical emphasis on unity. It is not easy. It is something we must wrestle with. And you ask some very good questions. But, I don’t think the questions you ask are cause to just say, “Oh, the whole thing is just too full of minefields. We’d better just forget about it.”
p.s. I gotta hand it to the Big Orange. They sure are lucky.
david,
the game on saturday was wild. were you able to see or hear it in spain somehow? also, the lsu v. arkansas game was an incredible game.
david
David,
I am in Cordova, TN right now, as we are on Stateside Assignment. I saw a little bit on TV, and listened to some on radio.
I also saw and listened to some of the LSU-Arkansas game.
Curious enough, the Univ. of Memphis-SMU game went to 3 overtimes.
I am NOT a UT fan. My brother-in-law is, and I like to rag him about it. I guess that transfers over to my dealings with you.
BTW, there is a BIG basketball game coming up on Feb. 23. My Memphis Tigers are out to revenge a senseless loss last year, on Chris Lofton’s most prolific shooting performance in history. GO TIGERS!!!
For everyone else,
Let’s get back to the topic of the post, now.
Brother David,
In a way, yea. If you remember, that church in Tennessee, as Methodist congregation, utilized the Baptist DOM and the builders for Christ in order to repair their building. Isn’t that working together? Or is your list exhaustive?
Blessings,
Tim
Tim,
I think the Baptist DOM and builders for Christ helping out the Methodist congregation to repair their building is a fine example of what I am talking about. And, as I commented on the post you are referencing, I am happy the Methodists congregation were led to study the Bible, and change their beliefs in accordance with their understanding of Scripture.
What I don’t think is so great an idea is making the fact that they changed from Methodists to Baptists the leading headline in the “Baptist and Reflector.” It seems to me to be a bit triumphalistic, and putting the accent on the wrong thing.
Brother David,
Not because you are going to be with me this coming Sunday, but because I truly mean this, I do agree with that sentiment. I too do not agree with making a big deal out of winning over a Methodist church. I am not sure that is what the intention was of the editorial staff at the “Baptist and Reflector”. However, I saw some of the same type of headlines with Dr. Jerry Falwell became SB, only from a different slant. Also, when Dr. David Jeremiah became SB he was introduced as such at a Pastor’s Conference.
I agree that we should be about winning the lost and celebrating new church starts. But if I have someone walk an isle and transfer their letter, I still present them to the congregation in a public fashion.
Isn’t that part of working in unity? People, and churches, finding their place in the Body of Christ through working together. Also, that is an expected thing when one works together in unity. Others finding their place and moving their membership. That is the reason churches are hesitant to do some of the things that you have outlined.
Blessings,
Tim
Brother David,
I am sorry. That last sentence should read; That is the reason some churches are hesitant to do some of the things that you have outlined.
What I like about David’s polite challenge is this: Can we POSITIVELY address a biblical command?
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3.
Too often we explain what a verse doesn’t mean instead of what it DOES mean.
Shalom,
Russell
Tim,
You may be on to something here.
I think we really need to search our hearts as to what truly motivates us: a desire to be faithful to our Lord’s commands, or a fear of “others finding their place and moving their membership”?
David,
On a side note, a good starting point may be for Baptist churches to start fellowshipping together. We once did that in the association but in many parts of the country this practice is dying out. Too often we get so busy building our own little kingdoms we forget we are part of a much larger Kingdom, which includes a large Baptist family. In Texas sadly sometimes it is easier to fellowship with a pastor from another denomination than it is to fellowship with a Baptist pastor on a different side of our divide.
My father who is a pastor encouraged me to get to know the pastors in my area by their first names not by their labels. It was great advice and has created for me a wonder extended family of faith.
Keep calling us to be “one” you know Jesus is interceding and working for us to come together!
David Lowrie
David Lowrie,
I, in general, agree with your advice about a good starting point. When it comes to funding and working on certain ministry projects, I do see a validity to choosing with whom you will cooperate more closely, based on compatibility of core values. Where true, biblical fellowship and unity is concerned, though, we ought not to leave out of the circle anyone whom our Father includes.
I love your father’s suggestion to “get to know the pastors in your area by their first names not by their labels.” That is wonderful advice I wish many more would heed.
Blessings,
David
David,
It’s kinda weird … all of the other pastors in my area have the same first name, “Brother.”