Guarding Unity

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

“Growing Pains” was a sitcom that aired from 1985 through 1992 featuring Dr. Jason Seaver and his wife Maggie along with their three children Mike, Carol, and Ben. Each episode highlighted Jason’s ability to adeptly tackle tough issues with humor and wisdom while navigating life’s unexpected twists and turns. The sunny lyrics of the series’ theme song, “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other,” presupposed that stormy weather was inevitable, but that rainy days could be weathered by sticking together. Despite the unique personalities of the Seaver siblings, the family presented a united front when facing challenges. The Apostle Paul predated the popular sitcom by almost two thousand years when he composed instructions to the young, growing church family at Ephesus. These same instructions have application for modern-day believers as we grow up into the mature body of Christ. Because none of us is fully sanctified yet, this can sometimes be an uncomfortable process, like the experience of physical “growing pains.” I recall my sons waking up some mornings with mysterious aches in their rapidly maturing pre-adolescent bodies. Their bones, muscles, and ligaments often shifted as they slept to accommodate normal growth. I explained to them that temporary discomfort and embarrassing clumsiness were part and parcel of growing up. Likewise, the body of Christ can expect spiritual “growing pains” and clumsiness as we learn to work and walk together toward the common goal of pointing others to Christ. We shuffle along, sometimes stumbling, and attempt to gracefully navigate a world that challenges our faith and threatens to fracture our unity.

As we anticipate challenges to walking together in unity, it is important to remind ourselves of the foundation for doing so. According to Ephesians 4:1, the way we maintain unity is to walk (live our daily lives) worthy of our calling (the hope we have in Christ.) From a strictly physiological perspective, walking is a complex process. It is the act of repeatedly falling forward with each step and regaining balance before taking the next step. None of us perfected this on our first attempt. In fact, unless our parents layered us in bubble wrap, we each accumulated a few bumps, bruises, and scrapes along the way. To this day I have a nice scar from landing on my chin a few too many times as a young child! We’ve all seen a toddler leading with his temporarily oversized head as he wobbles along tentatively reaching for the next stable surface. With enough trial, error, and tenacity, we master the skill of physically walking from one point to another and don’t throw in the towel just because we fell down the first time. Such persistence is also necessary as we walk side by side with our church family. Like the Seavers, brothers and sisters in Christ are called to face challenges with a united front and hold on tightly to each other when the going gets tough.

As previously stated, Scripture instructs us to walk worthy in our spiritual lives. The Greek word translated “worthy” means “equal weight.” Therefore, to live our daily lives equally weighted to the hope we have in Christ means that the way we conduct ourselves ought to measure up to what we claim to believe as followers of Christ. Said another way, we are to live with integrity, recognizing that the congruency between our conduct and our calling impacts our witness. Not only that, but it impacts the witness of fellow believers to whom we are “knit together” (Ephesians 4:16). It can be difficult to remember this bond we have with other believers as the world tugs at us with fiercely autonomous creeds such as “live your OWN truth,” “blaze your OWN trail,” and “follow your OWN heart.” These popular mantras don’t line up with how God’s Word says we are to conduct ourselves for the benefit of the body of Christ. As cultural cues pull us to ignore the authority of God’s Word in favor of the authority of the self, it is even more important to focus on virtues that only the indwelling Holy Spirit can cultivate in us. Paul lists three of these virtues in Ephesians 4:2-3 that foster unity among believers: humility, gentleness, and patience. These virtues are borne out in our lives as we love each other and are bound together in peace.

Humility is essential to counteract pride, which is an acid that disintegrates unity. Humility turns our focus outward instead of inward. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility as described in Philippians 2:6-8: “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” If our Lord lowered Himself to serve others, He expects no less of us as we walk and work together as His ambassadors on earth.

Gentleness is not weakness as the world might define it. Rather, gentleness involves having one’s emotions under control. It is not rude or harsh but demonstrates appropriate emotion at the proper time and for the right purpose. Peter instructs believers in his first epistle to give reasons for the hope within us, and further says, “Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:16.) In other words, as we live out the light of the gospel within our spheres of influence, we are to present a compelling witness by being prepared and reasonable while preserving the right to be heard again. We do this by conducting ourselves in ways that respect our fellow image-bearers and honor Christ.

Patience is evident in one who perseveres and endures amid adversity. James 5:10 says, “Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.” The Old Testament prophets were mocked, beaten, and murdered, yet they continued to warn, prophesy, and proclaim according to God’s instructions. While we are not likely to suffer as they did, according to James we should look to them as an example of how we are to conduct ourselves in an increasingly hostile culture. As members of the body of Christ, we will only survive if we support each other in this endeavor.

Humility, gentleness, and patience are essential as we bear with one another in love, tolerate each other’s differences, and appreciate the way God equips the body of Christ with diverse gifts to serve Him (Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31.) Because we are unique individuals with distinct likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses, we may sometimes rub each other the wrong way. We will stumble, but each skinned knee or scraped elbow provides an opportunity to course correct and do things better the next time. Like a toddler learning to walk, we find our balance as we appreciate, support, and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ while clinging to God’s unchanging Word for stability. Despite our differences, God has unified us by tearing down the wall of division between us and creating one new humanity (Ephesians 2:15-16.) Our job is to guard what He has already done through the bond of peace that He provides.

Ephesians 4:4-6 lists seven “ones” that further emphasize the unity we are called to preserve: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The one body is the universal church bought with a price by her one Lord, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23.) The one Spirit is the Holy Spirit who seals, counsels, and comforts each of God’s redeemed and adopted children (Ephesians 2:22.) The one hope is the promise of abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven that awaits all believers (1 Peter 1:3.) As we profess one faith (Jude 3) in our one Lord (Colossians 1:18) publicly through one baptism, we demonstrate the desire to walk in obedience to our one God and Father of all (John 1:12.) Paul’s point is that Christ, through His finished work on the cross, has already reconciled us to God and made us one through His indwelling Holy Spirit. We don’t need any other works or worldly philosophies to accomplish what He has already completed.

As the enemy sees the body of Christ walking in unity, he would like nothing better than to infect it by challenging this oneness. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us that disease comes in the form of bitterness, anger, wrath, shouting, slander, and malice; however, these malignancies can be defeated by putting on kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. As we remember that our righteousness was purchased by the blood of Christ, we are to put off the corrupted old self like a worn-out useless coat and put on the new self like a clean warm garment. Current ideologies encourage us to cling to parts of the old self like bitterness and rage and neglect clothing ourselves in kindness and forgiveness. It’s harmful for the body of Christ to adopt the popular practice of viewing others with suspicion and canceling those with whom we disagree. Sadly, this limits our effectiveness as we attempt to engage the watching world with the beauty of the gospel. We are, however, called to unify around truth and sound doctrine while separating from anything that deviates from Scripture. This doesn’t mean that we throw others away, but it does mean that we thoughtfully point them in the right direction. As we follow the one who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), God calls us to link arms together, walk the narrow path in unity, and invite others to join us on the journey of eternal hope.

Four Life-Changing Challenges for Christians

I confess that many times I’d prefer to take an easy road. The secular culture shouts its “follow your heart” mantra and honestly, my heart generally prefers the path of least resistance. It’s a smoother ride to go with the flow than it is to paddle upstream against everything the world says makes sense. But this isn’t the healthiest approach, because the only way to build true strength is to successfully endure struggle. Experience confirms that when little is required of me, I am less likely to grow in a way that benefits myself, my children, the church, or the world in which I live. Our world desperately needs a fleet of lifeboats powered by followers of Christ who have the perseverance to face difficulties on the stormy seas of life. I’d like to suggest four challenges that are worth accepting right now as Christians.

ACTIVELY CULTIVATE A RESILIENT FAITH. Authors Brown, Phillips, and Stonestreet write in their book, Making Sense of Your World, “For the Christian, the Bible is not merely a book to be looked at, it is also a lens to be looked through.” Unfortunately, Bible literacy is at an all-time low and recent studies indicate that only six percent of American adults hold to a Biblical worldview. The only way for Christians to withstand the pounding cultural waves that come against us is by diligently studying and meditating on Scripture in conjunction with doctrinally sound resources. This requires more than just reading a Bible verse or two out of context followed by whatever a popular influencer has to say about it. We need to engage in deep and consistent thinking about God’s Word by appreciating the multifaceted way it reveals Him to us rather than placing ourselves at the center of it. As we engage in study methods that help us dig beneath the surface of the Biblical text, we will begin consuming meat rather than just milk. This healthy diet helps us fortify our shields of faith to repel the fiery darts that the enemy relentlessly launches against us. It also prepares us to go on the attack and skillfully wield the sword of the Spirit. As Paul prayed for the recipients of his letter to the church at Philippi, we should desire to grow in knowledge and discernment so that we may be pure, blameless, and filled with the fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:9-11). Additionally, we should remember to test all things against Scripture and hold only onto what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) by being alert to any message that is emotionally manipulative, me-centered, or simply uses Scripture to proof-text a desired application.

ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENGAGE WITH YOUNGER GENERATIONS. Research overwhelmingly confirms that as the number of adult believers a child or student has investing in their lives increases, the chances of them walking away from church when they leave home decreases. We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are younger in the faith. Scripture repeatedly tells us that God is the defender of the weak and vulnerable and He commands us to vigorously protect His spiritual children in the same way. We should strengthen our resolve to disciple those within our spheres of influence in the truth of His Word so that they are not tempted to look to the culture for answers. When we have the courage to answer hard questions and doubts without turning blind eyes or deaf ears, we protect susceptible young believers by arming them with the superior answers found in the Biblical worldview. It takes effort to develop clear critical thinking required to understand the deceptive ideologies that lurk in the world and to help younger generations recognize the danger in falling prey to them. It’s more important than ever for seasoned believers to put our own self-interests aside and equip younger generations to resist the temptation to be conformed to the world. In a culture that is actively catechizing our children to devalue life, look out for number one, and redefine identity, it’s up to mature followers of Christ to offer something counter-cultural.

SELF-SACRIFICIALLY SERVE THE BODY OF CHRIST. Our world has a consumer mentality that caters to pleasure, entertainment, and seeking out whatever makes us happy as individuals, but being part of a church family often requires that we set aside our own preferences for the benefit of the body as a whole. God calls us to humbly demonstrate deference to our brothers and sisters in Christ even when it isn’t convenient or comfortable for us. Scripture says that as each individual part works together in cooperation out of love, and is led by Christ, the entire body will be healthier (Ephesians 4:16). The church can only be an effective force for good in the world if each individual fulfills a precise role while utilizing the unique gift with which God has equipped them. I believe that God has put my church family together to serve Him in a specific way in this exact time and place, so it will not promote the health of the church if I neglect my own role or step into someone else’s. First Corinthians 12:4-7 says, ^“Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.” Christ’s body was broken and bled for His bride, the church, so the least we can do is offer ourselves as a living sacrifice for her. As each member of the body supports the ministries of the local church through our consistent presence, persistent prayers, affirming words, and self-sacrificial deeds, we will be able to function as a healthy part of the body of Christ, our love will be evident to all, and He will be glorified.

COURAGEOUSLY SHARE THE TRUTH IN LOVE. Truth-telling is not in vogue today and is often met with considerable pushback in a world where truth is redefined according to individual preferences. While it can be uncomfortable at times, as Christians we are called to speak things that comport with reality and to do so in the most loving way possible. First Corinthians 13:6 says, “Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.” I’m not loving my neighbor if I don’t speak the truth based on objective and knowable reality. As we share true things, our interactions should be defined by gracious, well-seasoned speech and marked by wisdom in how we answer difficult questions (Colossians 4:6). The enemy of each human soul sets a trap with lies designed to steal, kill, and destroy. As believers we know the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…the One who is the only sure source of our identity…the One who grants each human life value, dignity, and worth. May we not be fearful of what man may do to us but be bold as we endeavor to set captives free by sharing truth so they may experience abundant life in Christ.

In a world that tempts us to do easy things like flaunt our authentic selves, look out for number one, despise our neighbors, and accept redefinitions of truth, I pray that we would have the courage to accept life-changing challenges with grace. We can be thankful that God promises to never leave us or forsake us, especially in the middle of difficult circumstances. We can place our trust completely in Him as we set our personal agendas aside to see His kingdom advance. The maker of the winds and the waves won’t abandon us as we set sail and do hard things for His glory.

Does My Worldview Matter?

When my family and I lived in the Texas Panhandle for a few years in the late 1990s, we became accustomed to driving long, lonely stretches of highway without seeing another car for miles. For Pete’s sake, the closest Walmart was an hour away! The windshield of our Dodge Caravan would easily accumulate a few zillion suicidal bugs on trips down those desolate dusty roads. They were assisted to their fate by the perpetually blowing winds common to that part of Texas. A thick gritty paste would eventually develop on the glass, requiring us to utilize a little elbow grease and one of those nifty squeegee things at the car wash to restore a clear field of vision. If we didn’t take this necessary step, our ability to safely operate the vehicle was severely impacted, and the mess on the windshield would prevent us from taking in the unparalleled beauty all around us. The flat treeless plains in the Texas Panhandle provided a panoramic backdrop for some of the most breathtaking sunrises and sunsets on the planet. It would have been a shame to miss out on the vibrant red, blazing orange, and deep purple hues because of some bugs and dust.

Sometimes in life, our view of the world around us can become obscured, as if we are gazing out through a dirty windshield. We are tempted to peer through the lens of preferences, misconceptions, or everyday disappointments in order to shape our view of life. Other times life altering circumstances come hurtling at us like rocks kicked up off the road toward the glass, completely shattering the way we see the world. An unclear or inconsistent worldview can be incredibly disorienting, causing us to live life off balance and uncertain of whether or not our feet are planted on a sturdy foundation. For this reason, it’s worth taking some time to carefully examine the source of our worldview so that when challenges come, we can meet them with confidence.

In “The Universe Next Door” James Sire defines worldview as “…a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.” One’s worldview will answer questions like: How did I get here? What’s the meaning of life? What is right and wrong? Where am I headed? We all have a worldview whether we realize it or not. We live our day to day lives as if we believe certain things to be true, even when we may not be able to clearly articulate the specifics.

As Christians, our worldview should be rooted in the Bible as we allow it to encompass and guide all aspects of our lives. It provides a fully faceted answer to all the big questions in life by showing us who God is, what He’s like, and what He does. Scripture tells us that God reveals Himself to us both through nature and His Word. Paul says in Romans 1:20, “For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” The natural world shows us things about God’s character that should guide the way we live. The Psalmist reveals in Psalm 19:1-2, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.” We observe order, intentionality, beauty, and purpose in creation, and make the assumption that Someone bigger than us is responsible for it all. This Someone brings order to our lives, creates beautiful things for us to enjoy, and intentionally guides us to a greater purpose outside of ourselves.

God also reveals Himself to us through His inspired Word. It’s no coincidence that the longest chapter in the Bible focuses on delighting in God’s Word. Psalm 119, consisting of 176 verses, highlights attributes of God like His righteousness, trustworthiness, truthfulness, faithfulness, immutability, and eternality. The Psalmist reveals how God opens our eyes (v. 18) and turns our hearts (v. 36). God is defined as good (v. 68) and as the Creator who gives understanding (v. 73). Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Scripture provides the illumination we need as we journey along the paths of our daily lives. God’s Word is both a light that shines directly on each step we take, and a lamp that illuminates the farthest horizon to bring our lives sharply into focus.

When I received specialized training as an occupational therapist in low vision rehabilitation, one of the first and simplest concepts I learned was the effective use of lighting. I was taught that if the light comes from the wrong direction, it can actually be more harmful than beneficial. A light coming from behind instead of in front, beside, or directly above can be blocked or distorted, making completion of a task more difficult. The same is true of the perfect light of God’s Word. When imperfect people (that’s all of us) don’t give Scripture its proper position in our lives, we miss the benefits of understanding God’s character, and risk coming away with a distorted view of how He works His purposes in and through us. The work of the Holy Spirit changes us as the Bible points us to God and illuminates aspects of His character. The point is not for us to see ourselves within the pages of Scripture, but to see Him, and allow Him to transform us into who He desires for us to be. We discover in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

A truly Biblical worldview leads us to the conclusion that our value does not originate within ourselves, but comes from the One who made us. We are loved not because we are good, but because He is good. Our worth does not come from some external earthly standard, but from the One who is Himself the standard of all that is true and just. We don’t find our significance by looking within, but from looking above. A painting or sculpture is not valuable because of the materials that comprise it, but because of the artist who designed it. A story is not compelling because of the paper and ink on which it is written, but because it came from the mind of the one who crafted it. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” From the perspective of a Biblical worldview, the way we see ourselves in the world should be all about Him and the purposes for which He created us.

Jesus told His followers in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Our culture applauds carving a broad and winding path through life, rather than traveling along the well-defined narrow way of God’s Word. Truth is defined as whatever feels best or is most convenient at the moment, rather than the truth embodied in Christ and revealed in Scripture. Often living “the good life” is celebrated as preferable to submitting to the One who is good. There is no doubt that it is becoming more and more difficult to live consistently within a Biblical worldview in the midst of a culture that answers the big questions of life much differently than we do. The views of Christ-followers are viewed as peculiar and intolerant. A culture that values rugged individualism and instant gratification simply can’t wrap its collective brain around a worldview that claims its followers are hidden within Someone bigger than themselves as they await a future glory (Colossians 3:3-4). But Jesus never promised it would be easy. Instead, He assured His disciples that He would be with them as they faced persecution, rejection, and hardship. Holding onto a worldview centered on God and His Word does matter and is of eternal significance as we strive to illuminate darkness and provide clarity in an increasingly confused world.