The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Автор: Lindsay Olesberg
Дата: 12.06.2010
Category: Писание в миссии
As I have been seeking to be transformed by Ephesians, I find the most challenging command to be the one in Ephesians 4:3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” I love the idea of unity. It’s the pursuit of unity that I find so difficult.
I have been in countless situations where tension and dissension are swirling around a group. Often, tension is primarily expressed in side conversations rather than as an agenda item. These conversations are pretty fun. My friends and I talk about the problem. We analyze the issues and the people involved. Internally I align myself with one “side” or another, all the while being friendly and positive when in group meetings. Disunity has already begun its work of poisoning my heart and the community.
But Paul’s letter to the Ephesians asks so much more of me. It asks – no, it commands – that I make every effort towards unity. What is it about unity that requires work and effort?
I think what I want is cheap unity – a sense of togetherness and oneness that feels good but doesn’t take any real work. I know that a vibrant marriage requires communication, forgiveness, compromise, and sacrificial love. Just saying “we are one” doesn’t build a marriage that can stand the test of time. Why wouldn’t it be the same in Christian community? Perhaps because I think of our oneness in the Body of Christ as “spiritual” I expect unity to magically appear rather than be built and developed.
The work of making every effort towards unity among Christians is hard because it requires me to grow and change. It means searching my heart for pride. It means getting to the place where I can speak the truth in love, rather than punitively. It requires me to risk having uncomfortable conversations with those I respect or am intimidated by. It tests my commitment to truth and integrity…. Honestly, it is so much easier to gossip about a situation rather than address it in a way that leads to growth and health for the community.
Ephesians helps me to ask myself, “Is there any other effort I can make that would help this situation turn into one that builds unity?” The world would surely notice if every Christian asked that question.
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Китай
“Cheap unity” (a great phrase!) is indeed very attractive. Of course, one of its hallmarks is that it does not last. That kind of “shared ease” disintegrates so quickly in the face of even the simplest challenges. Bonhoeffer in his excellent Life Together (a number of us on my field try and read it at least once a year) argues quite convincingly that unity based on anything other than our common identity in Christ—as brothers and sisters adopted into the same family of God through the shed blood of Jesus—is ultimately fleeting. I talk a bit about a recent experience struggling to maintain this deeper kind of unity in a recent posting here. As you say, it is not easy.
Your question in the comments regarding unity and humility in other cultures is difficult for me to answer. I confess that I can think of too few examples of strong unity or truly godly humility that have arisen from my experiences with local Chinese churches (you can find a discussion of this issue here). Certainly, there are many historical examples of China’s suffering saints. But… the kind of reconciliation that is such a powerful indicator of the active presence of humility and unity in a community? It is far too rare. Because of various cultural reasons, even acts of public forgiveness are quite rare in Chinese Christian circles. Not surprisingly, the Chinese Christian community often finds unity difficult to maintain.
Thank you for this excellent, heartfelt plea for doing the hard work of developing and maintaining true unity.
30.08.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
@ Swells_in_the_Middle:
True unity is rare in the American Church too. The typical pattern is that if someone has a conflict within a local church, they just leave that congregation and join another. This pattern makes it difficult for Christians to mature and develop the "character muscles" and skills to work through conflict well.
But since unity is such a high value of Jesus (Eph. 4, John 17), there must also be a spiritual battle behind situations of disunity. I would love to see major victories in this area mark the church in the 21st century. May it be so, Lord, may it be so.
31.08.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
Wow! "Cheap Unity" - that is a powerful indictment on reality today. We have created all these tools and efforts that are a semblance of unity without making the effort for the real thing.
Just as you described, unity takes time and that is the one thing that we don’t want to give up. I wonder why we are so unwilling to invest time in others. It might be because our culture has trained us to be so self-focused. It also might be because the tools of modernity have robbed us of the skills to build unity.
What are some other reasons why "Cheap Unity" is the currency of the day?
03.07.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
@ Jon_Hirst:
Jon,
I agree with you that time is a major factor. Others reasons could include a highly individualistic view of the faith, unwillingness to suffer discomfort, and lack of vision for depth of partnership. I’ve also wondered if the high rate of divorce in the West is a factor. People grow up believing that relationships are temporary (or at least they don’t see a large number of adults who have done the hard work of staying "unified" within their marriages). When they hit difficulty in a church, their knee jerk reaction is to move on.
I’ve been in campus ministry for 20 years, so my perspective on "cheap unity" is affected by college students who tend to think that unity means holding a worship night with all the different Christian groups in attendance. As valuable as that is, events can’t take us very far towards real unity. It is in ongoing relationships and partnerships where the real work is done.
08.07.2010
Новая Зеландия
I have had to apply Ephesians 4:2-3 repeatedly! When I was a young missionary trainee, I remember studying Ephesians with seasoned missionaries. We were in chapter 4 when conflict erupted. (I later discovered that relational conflict was one of the major onfield problems causing severe tensions). During our Bible study, some of us were using the Amplified Bible and verse 2 exhorts us to "make allowances because you love one another." I was able to make a personal application and shared it with the group and thankfully unity and harmony was restored. What convicts me is the phrase in verse 2: "Be completely humble and gentle." Completely means completely! The root problem is self-centeredness. The root solution is self-surrender. Jesus tells us to Learn from him as the humble and gentle Master (Matt 11:29-30. The learning never stops. Unity begins with me. Keeping unity in the bond of peace never comes easy. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness, says James after describing the fruits of godly wisdom.
I once asked John Stott if Matthew 18:15-17 needs to be followed exactly - that is, going to a brother who has sinned against you and showing his fault. In my culture, ways of peacemaking are often done with the help of mature believers working with aggrieved parties. Stott asked, "What would you like the outcome to be?" I replied, "Reconciliation." He agreed and responded that cultures may have different ways to bring about that outcome - but that outcome must be our aim. "Make every effort...."
03.07.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
@ Jim_Chew:
Jim,
In his book After You Believe, N.T. Wright claims that the New Testament virtues of humility, charity, patience, and chastity "contributed materially to the sheer puzzlement of ancient paganism when faced with the early Christians" (p. 246). Greek philosophers would never have exhorted people to develop humility. Jesus’ model of putting others before yourself in complete humility and gentleness was so radical.
Sometimes I daydream about what would happen if the global church deeply embraced the virtue of humility. Surely we would experience great joy and peace if our internal struggles were resolved quickly and reconciliation were the norm rather than the exception. Additionally, I imagine that those who don’t yet know Christ would have to ask what is behind this extraordinary unity that isn’t forced through coercion.
08.07.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
@ Jim_Chew:
Jim,
It makes sense that the process of reconciliation would be affected by culture. It’d be so interesting to learn from Christians around the world how they pursue reconciliation within the body of Christ.
Would some of the readers describe for us what the process of reconciliation looks like in your context?
08.07.2010
Аргентина
Thank you, Lindsay. The Word of God encourages us to live worthy of the calling which we have received. We are challenged to live in humility, being kind, patient, and tolerant of one another in love. We are challenged to maintain unity in the bond of the Spirit. One body, one Spirit, one Lord, and one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:16). From the beginning, the Lord has challenged us to work in team. The mission could be the foundation for our unity (Jose Miguez Bonino). Cooperation in the practical task of missions is the first step towards a deeper unity. We will grow in our testimony based on the unity of Christ, that calls us all to participate in God’s mission.
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14.06.2010
Соединенные Штаты Америки
@ MisionGloCal1Scott:
Carlos,
You make an excellent point. I agree that common mission is one of the keys to true unity. The most unified teams or churches I have been a part of are those with a clearly defined mission that everyone contributes to and prays for. I can bear with someone in love more easily if I see their commitment to the mission we share.
I think one of the implications of this is that the church must not be viewed as a social club where we enjoy being with people just like ourselves. Perhaps it is better to view ourselves as part of a family business. Our Father is in the "business" of redeeming the world and if you are part of the family, you participate in the family business. Thus mission is integrally tied to our identity as Christians.
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14.06.2010
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