Why Unity Among All Christians is Important

I am pursuing Church unity in a new way. I am not advocating one institutional authority over the Church, which has never occurred in history. Unlike prior efforts to resolve differences through dialog and words of agreement, I believe that church leaders from around the world could be convinced to gather for the purpose of asking God what we need to do to be unified the way He desires--praying together and seeking God’s answer. What is there to object to in that? What if it was only for one day? I imagine there would be a brief introduction, an initial prayer (similar to what was done in 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 4:24-31), and then everyone would be free to pray however they felt led.

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Should we not at least try? God will answer in the way that He chooses, and prayer like this will provide a spiritual bond of love for each other while not compromising our beliefs.

I believe the idea is more from God than from my own head. A couple of years ago as I was waking up one morning. Normally, my first thoughts as I wake up are very ordinary, but this time, I thought, if the leaders of the Church would come together to ask God what to do about our disunity, He would tell us what to do. Then I woke up completely. As I considered the idea over many days and discussed the idea with friends, I kept sensing God was calling me to work on making the gathering a reality. God opened my eyes to passages in the Bible about oneness (or unity) that I had never noticed before.

The Bible has a lot to say about unity. The most dynamic passage is John 17:20-23. The night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for the unity of all believers throughout time. He prayed that believers would be one just as He was one with the Father in order that the world might believe. “That they may be one” occurs three times and that the “world may know” two times. (A few of the other scriptures: John 13:34-35, 1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 3:2-4, Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 1:27-28 and 2:1-4, 1 Peter 3:8, and Proverbs 6:16-19.) Interestingly, John 11:50-52 says that Christ died for unity.

After hundreds of years of division, ignoring the broader application of these scriptures has become very convenient. Some truths are essential for being a Christian (1 Cor 15), but some other truths are made reasons for division contrary to what the Bible says about unity. The Church has functional disbelief in the scriptures--knowing the scriptures but not acting on them. In regards to unity, we have made the rules of man greater than the will of God.

I think if we are bold, creative, and honest we can impact the Church and the way people see the Church. God delights to work through the frailty of ordinary people, their personalities, their ways of thinking, and people around them as is illustrated in the authors and the other people he choose in the Bible.

Some will say such a gathering looks good on paper, but belief that such could happen is like believing something too good to be true. Is the following also too good to be true? The infinite God who made the universe loves us enough to die so that we can live forever with eternal happiness. God hears our prayers and in fact lives inside us. Yet we believe these. Something else almost too good to be true—it is possible for the Church to be as one because Jesus prayed that we should be as one that the World may believe (John 17:20-23). Something else—when we come together to pray the prayer of Jesus for oneness, God will respond, just as He did in 2 Chronicles 20 and Acts 4. God wants to fill us with living faith. Something else—many more people than we would ever think possible will believe in Christ when we, with God’s guidance, take Christ’s prayer seriously and do the same.

Will you not pray about this and consider helping? What I am sharing is not about the need for financial support. God has given us each a gift. You and I have influence. Copy this chat and give it to one or two people with more influence than you have, such as your pastor, who has influence with someone who has even more influence. Tell them that you support this idea and ask them to contact me. If it is not asking too much, let me know so that I can follow-up with them.

Anyone can reach me by going on-line to orlando.craigslist.org, use the Craig’s List search box to find “AGathering” (no spaces). This will lead to a book for sale. Hit the reply box.

By networking, eventually leaders and mission groups of the Catholics, Orthodox, Evangelicals, Charismatics, other Protestants, will join together to make this happen. You can make the difference. If you would like to help more (not financially), contact me and together we can find where you can use your gift(s).

Jesus traveled from heaven to earth to die for a united Church. How far are you willing to go?

Probably to the fridge.

You obviously did not read the rules to this site...

No, the OP is a like an infomercial to pitch a book.

As long as Satan is in the business of religion, there will be no unity. Everyone differs on what the Bible would have us do. Many serve another Jesus, it's just a matter of fact.

Yes and no.

Yes, there are prerequisite beliefs we must all share, non-negotiables, as members of the Body of Christ.

No, sometimes diversity of opinion about certain topics is ok and that's scriptural according to Romans 14.

What you're trying to achieve is breaking through the walls of peoples' denominational loyalties, egos, pride, fears, etc. This is less of a scriptural interpretation problem and more of a spiritual problem.

The root cause of division is both spiritual and rooted in human weakness.

Sorry if I did something wrong. I have not read them for a while. I guess I overstepped a line. It will not happen again.

Before you even start to gather us all up, you better define what a true christian is . The label "christian" has been almost destroyed over the centuries, and no longer has much power. Once you figure out the truth, many of these so called believers will flee. They are lovers or man not God, lovers of prosperity, prefer dogma over spiritual growth. They see church as an obligation that is met each Sunday morning, and have no power via the Holy Spirit whatsoever. The battle will begin to seperate the sheep from the goats very soon. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21–23).

It's all good so don't worry about it. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.

Hi Hoaj and glad to have you join us in the forums! The 'Terms of Service' are at the bottom of the page, fyi,. God bless you and your family!

Yes, funny. Jesus was funny when he prayed, "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word; that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them and you in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23 I guess Jesus wasn't very practical. Should we laught at Him?

Yes, funny. Jesus prayed, "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word; that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them and you in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23 Why did the Holy Spirit move John to put write that? I think part of the reason was so that we could imitate Christ. Are you at least willing to pray the same prayer that Jesus prayed?

[QUOTE="Runningman, post: 4371
Yes, there are prerequisite beliefs we must all share, non-negotiables, as members of the Body of Christ.

No, sometimes diversity of opinion about certain topics is ok and that's scriptural according to Romans 14.

What you're trying to achieve is breaking through the walls of peoples' denominational loyalties, egos, pride, fears, etc. This is less of a scriptural interpretation problem and more of a spiritual problem.

The root cause of division is both spiritual and rooted in human weakness.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is a good analysis of the problem. That would be something that could be prayed about at this gathering. When we confess our wrong attitudes, our sins, God listens. So if enough people would support a gathering such as I suggested, would our leaders not listen? It is counter-cultural and even counter church culture, but not counter scriptural. The benefits are worth the risk. But what is the risk? I may be embarrassed; I will be a fool for Christ.

It is not up to us to determine who the true Christians are. Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares? The tares are the non-Christians that will not be separated until the end of the age. However, a good summary of the basics of what a true Christian believes is spelled out in 1 Cor 15. I assume the saved thief on the cross basically only recognized that Jesus was Lord. Nevertheless, I would assume that there are limits to who leaders would be willing to have fellowship with in prayer. That would be all those who hold to the Nicene Creed.

As long as Satan is in business, he will oppose unity, but that does not mean he will win. Paul wrote to the Romans, "The God of Peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." (Rom 16:20) Our feet, God's work. My feet (and yours if you choose) and God's work.

No, the book is there to provide a safe way for people to contact me. It is a real book that I am glad to sell and is related to Church unity, but I did not write it and my intention was to give it to pastors. I am happy to give it away to anyone who is interested in Church unity. I am the fool working to build Chuch unity on a global scale through a prayer gathering. The book suggests a more local, practical way of building Church unity.

Actually, I couldn't make much sense out of your OP so I dismissed it out of hand. Not quite sure how my post, which my intent was to be amusing, has to do with how Jesus prayed to the Father. The two are not connected whatsoever. I am quite familiar with the book of John also.

I went to that site you suggested @Hoaj . Do you live in Orlando? I lived in the metro Orlando area for over 20 years and relocated to Clearwater in 2014. I lived mostly in Apopka and Mt. Dora off US441. Clearwater is congested with traffic too but not quite as bad as Orlando, especially the Walt Disney World and Universal Studios area. I 4 turns into a parking lot once you hit that stretch but I'm sure you know that already if you live in Orlando.

Kind of ironic to discuss Christian unity, then when someone makes a joke you preach down at them in a condescending tone with a complete and utterly lack of joy. You came across more as an uptight Pharisee than trying to unify Christians. Seems to me that immediately discredits your first post.

I would focus upon the inner unity.
The older I get the more I lose the belief that we can influence the world from the outside. I think it is a mystery...
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ---------> ordaining unity on the inside first
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Outside is only an outward appearance of what is inside, and we were told to be careful with appearances.
What is the use of exercising unity formally if people don't really feel it.
If they feel it, they can go out into the woods and feel like one with all living. They don't need to be physically close to others, nor in the same space with them, nor in church. They can look at a bug crawling and notice Spirit of God in everything that moves.