Comments on: Jesus Divides

By: loren k

loren k — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:57:19 +0000

thanks, that makes a little more sense to me… i think a divisive Jesus is something that isn’t often talked about, but i believe is true.

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:08:10 +0000

I’d say/argue this - there is unity in Christ - He is one. The Spirit, The Son and the Father work together in common-unity to accomplish one thing. They don’t work against each other.

So the emphasis is then on - is the “church” one with them or not?

Sounds great in theory but the problem is this - as Mike so well put - people aren’t always where they need to be with God so discerning that gets a bit cloudy.

So the wrestle match continues and gets played out in how churches determine their polity. Some say we’ll discern that by popular vote. Others say one senior leader will make that decision. Others say - we’ve set aside a small group of people that we think have been gifted and called to lead (elders) and they will make that decision.

Each “answer” has it’s own drawbacks and potential land mines. It’s just a matter of which land mines you’re comfortable living with.

By: MikeS

MikeS — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:26:56 +0000

I see what you’re saying.

I remember when we were going through Experiencing God study (boy, that was back in the day, eh?) that Blackaby said of his own church that unity won’t always take place, because people aren’t always where they need to be with God. They hide their personal desires behind the mask of conviction.

Yet I find Paul on a couple of occasions speaking of the unity of the Spirit (Rom 15:5 and Eph 4:3). So, I don’t think it’s an either/or. I think it’s a both/and. I just don’t think you can have unity in the Spirit without Jesus being at the center of our lives and his church.

Does this make sense?

By: loren k

loren k — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:05:26 +0000

how would you describe the difference from being “one” from “unity?”

i think you might be on the right trail with the unity and oneness thing… i just need some help wrapping my mind around it.

i think we have an example of “oneness” inside of the idea of the triune God, so we know Jesus knows what oneness is, but i don’t think i do… any help?