 Individuals form the bonds of unity There are many who would like to see more unity with in the
Restoration Movement. Over the past few years, greater effort has been put
forth to enable dialogue between groups. A cappella and instrumental
congregations have had meetings as well as ICOC and churches of Christ in the
past few years. Conferences and debates are useful for doctrinal and church
culture discussions. Although these meetings and forums are good, they do not
address unity within our fellowship at an individual level.
Romans chapter 16 gives a great example of bonding via
individuals and not institutions. Although Paul had never been to the church in
Rome (Romans 1:13) he had relationships with individuals in the
congregation. The letter was not from an institution to an institution, it was
from one man to a group of people, many of whom were friends. Corporate to
corporate relations are based on rules. Unity was forged by Paul being a friend
and mentor to the church.
Disunity happens at the corporate and individual levels.
There is no doubt that a sour relationship can not only affect the persons
involved, but those that they influence. The more responsibility and respect
someone has, an elder or deacon, the more impact they have on their congregation
as a whole. An example of disunity at the institutional level by an individual
is in 3 John 1:9. Diotrephes provokes division at the congregational level by wielding
his authority with spiritual abandon. Despite the influence of others, there is
still the matter of individual choice and desire to build bridges.
“I wish our church was had better relations with…” pines
members with the desire for congregational cooperation. This is a misguided
wish. Energy is better spent developing friendships between members of each
congregation, starting with the person quoted above. The individual
relationship is the sinew and tendon on which a group to group dialogue can
form.
If you desire better relations cooperation between
Stone-Campbell congregations, become one plank in the bridge. Don’t let Satan
trick you into thinking someone else will build the bridge. You can start the
process. Someone else can add. Eventually the chasm will be shortened or
crossed. Be like Paul and think of unity as an individual bonding that you can
forge.
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