What's Needed For Unity In the Church?

You can see quite a variety of ideas as to what is required for unity in the church. “We should only use organs during worship.” “We need to all lighten up and understand that the use of contemporary music will draw people in.” “We need to be missional minded.” “If everything looked the same from church to church we would have unity.” “We should try to look more like the New Testament church.” “We just need to focus on loving our neighbor.”

Many of these things can be broken into two categories: “fallible” and “infallible”. Things that fall into the “fallible” category are things that have been instituted by men, in many cases are in place for the sake of good order, and, may or may not have been inspired by scripture. In and of themselves these things can be fruitful. Things that fall into the “infallible” category are things that have been given to us by God and are from scripture.

What the church building looks like, the carpet, the pews, the altar, the font, the banners or paraments, these things are all fallible. The style of the music, the instruments used, how the church “does missions”, these things are fallible. That’s not to say that these things aren’t important, however, they do not serve as a primary source of true unity in the church.

So what is needed for unity in the church? Answer, that which is infallible, those things which God has given to us through scripture. I believe our reformation fathers answered this question the best in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession:

      “For it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word.

³ It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that ceremonies, instituted by men, should be observed uniformly in all places.

⁴ It is as Paul says in Eph. 4:4, 5, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” ^[1]

It is interesting to note that what God gave us as the basis of our unity, Word and Sacraments, deals first and foremost with Justification, Justification which is the work of Christ for us.

There is the proper preaching of the Word, in which the Law is declared in its full sternness showing our helplessness and deadness in sin, that the Gospel might be proclaimed in its full sweetness, that through the death of Christ our sins are forgiven, that through this preaching we might receive faith. (Romans 10:17) This, which is infallible, is necessary for unity in the church.

There is the proper administration of baptism, through water and the Word, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which Christ saves us. (Romans 6:3-4) This, which is infallible, is necessary for unity in the church.

And there is the proper administration of communion, in which Christ works forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17) This, which is infallible, is necessary for unity in the church.

What is needed for unity in the church? Justification, given to us through the Word and Sacrament!  Consequently, church unity is established as we gather around and properly understand these infallible gifts. Furthermore, as we gather around Word and Sacrament we will see a proper shaping of the rest of fallible aspects that make up the church.

What is needed for unity?  Word and Sacrament are needed, and thankfully they are given to us by our gracious Lord. 

Jesus Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

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^[1] Tappert, T. G. (Ed.). (1959). The Book of Concord the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. (p. 32). Philadelphia: Mühlenberg Press.

Historical Church Writings #6: Bonaventure

Today is Historical Church Writing Thursday. Each Thursday will feature the writings of the church fathers, reformation fathers or other church writings. Today's Historical Church Writing is from Bonaventure:

     "Be cognizant, for the kingdom of God is near" (Luke 21:32).

     These words can refer either to the kingdom of God that we call the "advent of the Son," for whose nativity we should be preparing just now, or to the kingdom of God we say is "paradise." Either interpretation is truly and strictly acceptable, for the kingdom of glory is near to the servants of God, and the kingdom of grace, the advent of Christ, is already among them (Luke 17:21) and day by day grows and multiplies in His own servants.

     Thus, whichever way we interpret "kingdom of God," we can say that this kingdom is a place or a reality of supreme majesty and therefore seeks out those of noble and reverential desires, for we read: "Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land" (Psalms 85:9). This kingdom has supreme clarity and therefore is among men of outstanding contemplation and meditation, inasmuch as "You are near, O Lord, and all Your ways are truth" (Psalm 119:151) This kingdom is incomparably charming and gentle, so that those who are near it, who have been created anew and anointed from heave, exclaim: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:4-5). The kingdom is, lastly, supremely holy and therefore encourages believers to be in regular conversation with God, for "the Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth" (Psalm 145:18).

     -- Bonaventure

Historical Church Writings #3: Gregory of Nazianzus

Today is Historical Church Writing Thursday. Each Thursday will feature the writings of the church fathers, reformation fathers or other church writings. Today's Historical Church Writing is from Gregory of Nazianzus:    

[C]onsider by [St. Paul's] example how important a matter is the care of souls... The manifold character of his ministry? Consider his loving-kindness and, on the other hand, his strictness and the combination and blending of the two in such way that his gentleness should not weaken nor his severity exasperate.... On behalf of some he gives thanks; others he upbraids. Some he names his joy and crown; others he charges with folly. Some who hold a straight course he accompanies, sharing in their zeal; others who are going wrong he checks. At one time he excommunicates; at another he confirms his love. At one time he grieves; at another rejoices. At one time he feeds with milk; at another he handles mysteries. At one time he condescends; at another he raises to his own level. At one time he threatens a rod; at another he offers the spirit of meekness. At one time he is haughty toward the lofty; at another lowly toward lowly. Now he is least of the apostles, now he offers a proof of Christ speaking in him; now he longs for departure and is being poured forth as a libation, now he thinks it more necessary for their sakes to abide in the flesh. For he seeks not his own interests, but those of his children whom he has begotten in Christ by the Gospel. This is the aim of all his spiritual authority, in everything to neglect his own in comparison with the advantage of others.

     -- Gregory of Nazianzus

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria