The Biblical View of Church Unity
Archibald A. Allison
Extracted from Ordained Servant, vol. 10, no. 3 (July 2001), pp. 60-64
Introduction
To the casual onlooker there seems to belittle, if any, unity in the church of Jesus Christ today. If you look in the telephone book you see over seventy-five different categories under the main category of "Churches." There is Adventist, Anglican Catholic, Apostolic, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Baptist American, Baptist Bible Fellowship, Baptist Conservative, Baptist Free Will, Baptist Independent, Baptist Non-Affiliated, Baptist Southern, Bible, Brethren, Calvary Chapel, Charismatic, and the list goes on and on. Some of those categories are for churches that are one of a kind, such as Church on the Rock or Cornerstone Family Church.
Is there any such thing as Church unity? What is church unity when there are seventy-five different categories of churches, just in Fort Collins? There are many different answers to these questions. Some say there is no unity in the church. Some say all Bible-believing churches are united because they all believe in Jesus as the Savior of sinners. That is church unity right there. So we must turn to the Bible to understand the biblical view of church unity. Since God the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible, the Bible gives us God's view of church unity. What does God say about the unity of his church, the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
I. The Biblical View of the Church
First, what is the church? According to the Bible, the church is the covenant people of God. The church is the people whom God has called out of this sinful world to be his people. God promises his covenant people (1) that he will be their God and (2) that he will dwell with them. We see this in Genesis 12:1-3 where God calls Abram and his family to leave his relatives in Mesopotamia and sets Abram and his family apart as the holy people of God to whom God will give his covenant blessings. We read in Genesis 12:7 that Abram built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. The Lord was his God and as one of God's people he worshipped and served the Lord.
In Genesis 17 God more fully reveals his covenant to Abraham (Gen. 17:1-8). Central to the covenant is God's promise "I will be God to you and your descendants after you." When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt "God spoke to Moses and said to him: I am Yahweh. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Yahweh I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am Yahweh; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God" (Exodus 6:1-7).
All through the Bible God refers to his eternal covenant of grace in which he promises believers and their children that he will be their God and he will make them his people. God requires that his covenant people obey his law, the Bible. That body of people with whom God establishes his eternal covenant is the church. Those are the ones he has called out to be his, which is what the Greek word for church means: "called out." Jeremiah 7:23.
This same eternal covenant of grace is brought into its fullest and richest dimension by the Mediator Jesus Christ and his work of redemption. Jeremiah prophesied of the richness of God's covenant after the coming of Christ in 31:33-34. This is the new covenant which the New Testament speaks of. Hebrews 10:11-18. It is the same essential covenant as the old covenant. The promises and obligations are the same. The new covenant differs from the old covenant in glory, richness, power, effect, and the way in which God administers the covenant. Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant, the Great High Priest, and Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, replaces the priests and sacrifices of the old covenant. Reality in Christ replaces the shadows and ceremonies of the old covenant (Colossians 2:16-17).
The church is the covenant people of God in all ages. The church began in the Garden of Eden when God said to the serpent in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." God promised to set Eve and her Seed apart as his people redeemed by Christ and in battle with Satan and his kingdom. In the garden the line of battle down through the ages was drawn between the Christ and his church, on the one side, and Satan and all unbelievers on the other side.
That is the same church that Christ was speaking of in Matthew 16:17-19. The line of battle is still the same: Christ and his church versus Hades which is the place where God punishes the souls of the wicked who are in Satan's kingdom of darkness. That is the same church in which the apostles taught and which still exists today.
The church is the covenant people. In the Old Testament the church, or covenant people of God, were primarily — but not exclusively — the children of Israel. Abraham had servants who were not his blood descendants, but were God's covenant people. Circumcision, the Old Testament sign and seal of God's covenant of grace, was for every male in one's household, including servants who were not Israelites. Rahab and her family and Ruth are other examples of non-Israelites who joined the covenant people of God in the Old Testament.
In the new covenant the Israelites who broke God's covenant were cast out of the covenant. God gave the kingdom to different people: to non-Israelite peoples or nations. Today the church is made up of God's covenant people from every tongue and tribe and nation, including Israelites. One of the creeds from the Reformation, the Heidelberg Catechism, puts it this way in Q&A 54:
Q. What do you believe concerning the holy catholic church?
A. I believe that the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a church chosen to everlasting life.
B. All those who believe the covenant promises of God, together with their children, ought to join them-selves publicly to a local congregation of the church of Jesus Christ. God seals his special covenant relationship with believers and their children in the sacrament of baptism. By baptism both believers and their children are publicly united to the body of Christ and admitted as members of the church. Those who publicly profess their faith in Christ and their commitment to keep God's covenant in this way are to be recognized and treated as God's people, as members of Christ's body, which is his church. Those who do not publicly profess their faith in Christ and do not publicly commit themselves to keep God's covenant and have not been baptized are not part of God's covenant people. They are outside the church.
Article 28 of the Belgic Confession of Faith, another Reformation creed, states this covenantal obligation of every Christian to join the church, the covenant people of God, in this way:
We believe, since this holy assembly and congregation is the assembly of the redeemed and there is no salvation outside of it, that no one ought to withdraw from it, content to be by himself, no matter what his state or quality may be. But all and everyone are obliged to join it and unite with it, maintaining the unity of the Church. They must submit themselves to its instruction and discipline, bend their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ, and serve the edification of the brothers and sisters, according to the talents which God has given them as members of the same body.
To observe this more effectively, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate from those who do not belong to the Church and to join this assembly wherever God has established it. They should do so even though the rulers and edicts of princes were against it, and death or physical punishment might follow. All therefore who draw away from the Church or fail to join it act contrary to the ordinance of God.
C. The church belongs to its Savior and Head, Jesus Christ. "There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ" (Westminster Confession of Faith XXV.6). Ephesians 1:22; 5:23-24; Colossians 1:18.
D. The church, as the body of Christ, lives in fellowship with Christ and in obedience to him (John 15:1-8; Ephesians 5:23-33). The church worships the triune God both corporately and as families. The minister of the Word together with the elders proclaim and apply the Scriptures and rule in the church. The members of the church are to edify one another, teach the covenant to their children and their children's children, and also bear faithful witness of the gospel of Christ to those outside the church.
E. The Holy Spirit also governs his church by working in the minds and hearts of his people by and with the Word as it is expounded and applied by the office bearers of the church (1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Ephesians 4:11-16).
The Belgic Confession brings many of these Scriptural points together in Article 27:
We believe and profess one catholic or universal Church, which is a holy congregation and assembly of the true Christian believers, who expect their entire salvation in Jesus Christ, are washed by His blood, and are sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
This Church has existed from the beginning of the world and will be to the end, for Christ is an eternal King who cannot be without subjects. This holy Church is pre-served by God against the fury of the whole world, although for a while it may look very small and as extinct in the eyes of man. Thus during the perilous reign of Ahab, the Lord kept for Himself seven thousand persons who had not bowed their knees to Baal.
Moreover, this holy Church is not confined or limited to one particular place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world. However, it is joined and united with heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.
II. The Unity of the Church
That brings us to the second point: The Unity of the Church.
The Bible teaches that the church of Jesus Christ is one. Christ has only one body. He has only one church. He has only one covenant of grace. He has only one covenant people. Christ is not divided. I Corinthians 1:10-13; 12.12-14. Ephesians 4:1-6.
That one church, that one covenant people down through every generation, is united by God's one eternal covenant. God's one eternal covenant of grace unifies all of Scripture, all of redemptive history, all of God's covenant people, the church in every place and in every age from the beginning of the world to the end. God's eternal covenant promise is stated in Ezekiel 37:26-27: "I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Leviticus 26:12. God makes this same covenant promise to every church and to every member of God's covenant people.
This promise is fulfilled in Jesus who is Emmanuel, which means "God with us" (John 1:14). Jesus is the mediator of the covenant of grace. He has by his own blood redeemed his people to be his holy dwelling place or Temple. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3.9-17. Ephesians 2:21-22). This covenant promise fords its ultimate fulfillment in the new Jerusalem, the bride of Christ. Revelation 21:1-4.
B. The church must recognize, appreciate, confess, and live out this covenantal unity of the people of God. This unity is not a human achievement. Rather, this unity is created by God, since he is the one who has established his covenant with his people.
C. In the Bible God describes the church as one church. Exodus 19:5-6. Deuteronomy 14:1-2.26:16-19. Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:11-22; 4:1-16.2 Corinthians 12:13. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12). In the New Testament we are to make disciples of all the nations or peoples of the world (Matthew 28.19-20). Everyone who believes becomes part of the one church or covenant people of God.
D. This unity includes the covenant people of God in the past, the present, and the future. John 17:20-21.
E. The apostles proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. The one church of Christ is built upon that foundation. The apostles established local churches as covenant communities ruled by elders. These churches in various locations around the world were not independent, but together formed the one body of Christ, united by Christ the head, by the presence of the one Holy Spirit, and by the one eternal covenant of God with his people in every place. When the elders at Antioch and Jerusalem resolved a problem in the churches, their decision was binding on all the churches (Acts 15; 16:4-5).
F. Individual Christians and churches attain to the unity of the one church of Christ by growing in spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16). Unity and maturity are the result of mutual, loving admonition and submission to Scripture. Maturity and unity is shown by speaking and doing the truth in love.
G. Each member of the church of Jesus Christ is essential to the body of Christ. The growth of the whole body depends on the active participation of each part (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:13,16). Those who bear special office in the church are to equip the members for and help them in this work (Eph. 4:11-12).
III. Working Out This Unity in the Church Today
How do we apply this to the church today? How do we work out these truths in the church today?
A. The unity of the church is not mere tolerance of other Christians and church despite our differences. It is not just having a good attitude and feeling toward every one. Biblical church unity is having no divisions; being perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Biblical church unity is based on all the truth revealed in Scripture. 1 Corinthians 1:10. It is a dynamic oneness in which believers and churches confess the same doctrine with one mouth and live in common, faithful obedience to the law of God. Biblical church unity is centered in the truth, in everything God has revealed in Scripture. Ephesians 4:13. Biblical church unity is confessional, that is, together we must confess all that God teaches us in his word and live in obedience to it. (John 17; Philippians 2:1-2). Creeds (summaries of the teaching of Scripture) are an important tool for biblical church unity.
B. The unity of the church is in Christ and his covenant. Biblical church unity is both a given reality and also a requirement. The unity of faith is both God's gift and a mandate to us. Ephesians 4:1-6,13,15. God requires us as families and churches to show this unity more and more in our confession and life. God says that the church will more and more come to the unity of faith in this age. Ephesians 4:11-13. We must actively pursue this goal of serving the Lord in perfect peace, purity, and unity. Not to strive for this goal with all our hearts is to violate the law of Christ.
Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to strive for visible, practical unity in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 15:5-6; Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:3. It is not biblical unity for Christians to think differently about the teaching of the Bible. Biblical church unity is agreement on the truth of God's Word so that we glorify God with one mind and one mouth. The most important thing we can do to promote biblical church unity is to study, defend and propagate the faith once delivered to the saints. We should never grow weary of studying God's Word.
C. The ultimate goal of biblical church unity is one world-wide presbyterian/reformed church.
D. The present division of the church is because families and churches are unfaithful to God in doctrine, confession, practice, and life. Their doctrine and life is contrary to the Word of God. This is the result of pride, laziness, and even God's chastisement for sin.
Pride is a main cause of disunity (Proverbs 13:10). In our pride we refuse to listen and be corrected in doctrine and life. We are more interested in defending our church than in understanding, believing, and living according to the truth. We harshly condemn those who disagree instead of humbly exhorting them to search the Scriptures and consider our arguments. We are characterized by strife and vainglory rather than lowliness of mind (Philippians 2:3).
Because of laziness we do not search out the truth as we should. But there is no way the church can be of one mind when people are too lazy to learn the Scriptures. (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).
E. Since we are in this sinful situation, biblical unity can only come through repentance and reconciliation. We must repent of our pride, laziness, ignorance, and all the sin and disobedience that has led to disunity. We must turn from false doctrine and sinful practices and start obeying God's law. We must face our sins, acknowledge that we were wrong, and forsake those errors. If we are in an unfaithful church that has broken from the unity of the church of Christ, we must leave that church and join with a faithful church that endeavors to maintain the unity of faith by submitting to Scripture in all things.
F. There are degrees of purity among Christians and churches. There are presbyterian/reformed churches that are more faithful and others that are less faithful. There are non-reformed churches which desire to be faithful. There are unfaithful churches which have departed so far from the faith that they are no longer part of the one covenant people of God (e.g. the synagogues that rejected the gospel of Christ preached by the apostles).
G. Since biblical church unity is confessional, there can only be true unity among those who faithfully hold to the whole teaching of Scripture. Churches which faithfully hold to the whole teaching of Scripture are called reformed/presbyterian.
With love, humility, and a teachable spirit, we must avoid pride, a censorious spirit, and foolish and unprofitable questions. We must continually study the Scriptures and in meekness and patience instruct those who oppose the truth. Heretics and false teachers are a great threat to biblical unity. Their mouths must be stopped. (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:14; Philippians 2:3-4; Psalm 119:97-104; Proverbs 2:1-9; Romans 14:1-10; II Timothy 2:23-25; Proverbs 12:1).
H. Steps in seeking biblical church unity:
1. Mutual agreement on what the gospel is. The same confession of the Christian faith and life in all major points.
2. Recognize each other as true churches of Christ in which the marks of the church are found (Belgic Confession of Faith, Art. 29). Establish a sister church relationship in which official interchange may take place, including the exchange of delegates at the meetings of the ruling bodies of the church.
3. Fellowship and cooperation in domestic and international organizations which express our oneness in faith and life.
4. Willingness to give, receive, and respond to reproof, self-examination in light of Scripture
5. Steps toward actual union of churches:
a. Reconcile any sin that is involved in separate existence as a church. This may be error in doctrine or practice. Separate existence may only be due to different languages, in the past and/or present.
b. Agree on the same government and confessional standards
I. We all have the responsibility to call all churches, including our own, to greater faithfulness, in order to seek the unity of the whole church of Christ.
J. The approach of the National/World Council of Churches and Promise Keepers to church unity is unbiblical. There is no true unity without the same confession. We can not all worship together unless we are united in doctrine and life. It is not enough to say that we all have the same Savior: Jesus. That is the same basis of unity adopted by the World Council of Churches (WCC): "The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God the Savior according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." WCC does not have biblical unity. Their approach does not work and is not scriptural.
Archibald A. Allison is pastor of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Fort ColIins, Colorado, which was recently constituted as a congregation of the Presbytery of the Dakotas. This study was originally presented to a mid-week Bible study in that congregation.