02.42. Maintaining Practical Unity

Maintaining Practical Unity The truth of the One Body of all believers and of the one Spirit which has formed this divine "unity of the Spirit" necessitates that there must be a practical relationship of unity between local Assemblies of Christians. This is the relationship which the Word of God marks out for Assemblies, as we have seen, and it is the only Scriptural one. In the first Epistle to the Corinthians, which embraces "all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:2), the apostle writes: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10) .

Satan is ever busy seeking to destroy this practical unity of judgment and happy fellowship between believers and Assemblies and to promote independency and division among God’s people. So we are exhorted to use "diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace". We must make an earnest effort to promote unity and fellowship amongst believers in the local Assembly and amongst the Assemblies in various localities, provinces, and countries. We purpose now to consider some of the things that help to foster and maintain practical unity between Assemblies of believers.

Examples from Scripture

We have but to follow the pattern given us in the divine account of the Apostolic Church in this matter.In the Epistles of Paul, Peter, and John, we notice that at the close Christian greetings are sent, through the apostle, from all the saints of one Assembly to all the saints of the particular Assembly (or to the individual) to whom the Epistle was written. Paul sent salutations to the Corinthians from the Churches of Asia and from Aquila and Priscilla and the Church which was in their house at Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19). The apostle Paul also told the saints in Rome of the work of the saints in Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26). And he would stir up the Corinthians and all the saints in Achaia by telling them of the devoted, sacrificial giving of the Churches of Macedonia for the work of ministering to the needy saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) . He also told the saints at Corinth of the great opening for the Gospel that was granted unto him at Ephesus and of the many adversaries there (1 Corinthians 16:9). We note, too, that he requested the Assembly at Colosse to see that the Epistle he had sent to them be read also to the Church of the Laodiceans, and that they read the Epistle from Laodicea (Colossians 4:16). In the divine history of the early Church we observe, also, how the apostles, Titus, Timothy, Apollos, and other servants of the Lord visited the Assemblies and in passing from one place to another conveyed news of joy and sorrow to the saints, thereby linking the Assemblies together in a practical way. Peter "passed throughout all quarters" and Barnabas rehearsed to the Church at Antioch all that God had done with them on their first missionary tour and how the door of faith was opened unto the Gentiles and Assemblies formed (Acts 9:32; Acts 14:26-27).Later, when they were sent by the brethren at Antioch to Jerusalem, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, "declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren." When they came to the Church at Jerusalem they declared the same (Acts 15:2-4). The foregoing examples from the inspired record of the Apostolic Church manifest the common life, divine affections, and common interests which throbbed throughout the Assemblies and the whole Church. There was the practical demonstration of the truth of the One Body. By exchange of loving greetings, by visits of the Lord’s servants from one Assembly to another, and through communications concerning each other’s welfare and activities the saints and Assemblies were drawn together and maintained in practical love, fellowship, and unity.

Let God’s people do likewise today; let there be interchange of loving greetings and visits between Assemblies. May diligent efforts be put forth by the Lord’s servants and by local brethren in visiting and ministering among the Assemblies and making the saints acquainted with the activities, joys, sorrows, and needs of the various gatherings. Then let us all feel and share these joys or burdens and pray for each other. The work of those who give themselves to the service of the Lord and travel about among the Assemblies in the ministry of the Word is a very important and necessary service towards maintaining unity and promoting fellowship between Assemblies. Satan would also seek to use them in sowing discord. Of this they must beware.

Fellowship Meetings and Conferences The convening of special meetings for fellowship, meditation on the Word, and prayer, or conferences, to which nearby and other Assemblies are invited, are a great help in the promotion of practical love, fellowship, and unity among Assemblies. They tend to draw saints closer together and to give new interest, energy, and zeal for the Lord’s work. Hearts are refreshed in prayer, by the ministry of the Word, and by spiritual intercourse with other believers and gatherings are thereby strengthened and revived, especially the smaller ones. Isolated saints are also encouraged. Unity of teaching and practice is better maintained by such mutual meditations and discussions in conference and the link of fellowship between Assemblies is made stronger thereby.

Assemblies should be encouraged to conduct such special fellowship meetings and conferences of short duration or of several days length as opportunity affords. National holidays have often been taken advantage of for such general gatherings and much blessing has resulted to the saints.

Letters and Periodicals Where personal fellowship and visitation of the saints and gatherings is not so easily accomplished because of great distances and lack of time and freedom from duties, the writing of letters of brotherly fellowship and encouragement is a great help in promoting practical unity, common interests, and fellowship among saints. Another valuable aid to this end is the publication and circulation of periodicals of ministry and of those giving items of interest concerning the saints and the Assemblies both at home and abroad.

Formation of New Assemblies When a gathering of believers is to be formed in a place, it is well to seek the fellowship of one or more nearby gatherings or at least the Assembly closest to this place. This promotes unity and happiness and the spirit of independency is avoided. Then, if all is in Scriptural order, the older, nearby Assemblies can make known to the Assemblies elsewhere the formation of this new gathering and commend it to their prayerful fellowship. The nearby Assembly or Assemblies should show practical fellowship with this new gathering in their beginning a fresh testimony for the Lord on the ground of the One Body and should help them on in the path by visits and ministry from time to time. By this way of acting in fellowship with another gathering, the new Assembly learns what it is to act practically on the truth of the One Body and the One Spirit and is taught in the very beginning that it is not an independent unit and cannot act independently of the Church elsewhere. In this connection we would bring to the reader’s attention a truth well stated by another: "It is quite clear if two or three are gathered together it is an Assembly, and if Scripturally assembled, an Assembly of God ... But if there be one such, and another set up by man’s will independent of it, the first only morally in God’s sight is the Assembly of God, and the other is not at all so, because it is set up in independency of the unity of the body" (J. N. Darby).

Thus in forming a new Assembly we must be sure that it is not an independent act, but an action according to the unity of the Body of Christ. Of course, if an Assembly, because of following a continued path of evil and self - will, finally has to be set aside and cut off from fellowship as a leprous house by other Assemblies, it can no longer be considered a Scripturally gathered Assembly. The establishment of a new gathering in such a place, done in fellowship with Assemblies elsewhere, is not an act of independency, but according to the holiness and truth of God’s house which demands separation from evil (2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:20-21). To say, as some do, that there is no Scripture for cutting off an Assembly from fellowship is to say that there is no Scripture for separation from evil.

Letters of Commendation From Acts 18:27, Romans 16:1, 2 Corinthians 3:1, and Colossians 4:10, we learn that it was a practice among the early Christians to give letters of commendation to saints who went from their midst to Assemblies where they were unknown and that they required the same from strangers who came to them for fellowship. Such letters authenticate the bearer as a true believer and as one whose walk is godly. They are a valuable means of introducing a believer to a gathering and assure him a welcome. They are also a safeguard against receiving false brethren. They tend to promote confidence and fellowship between Assemblies and are a great help toward the maintenance of godly order and unity. The letter should be from the Assembly and addressed to the Assembly which is to receive the person.

Great care should be taken not to omit this letter when going to an Assembly where one is a stranger. However, it is clear from 2 Corinthians 3:1 that such letters of commendation are not required of one who is known by a number in a gathering. May the Lord help us as individuals and Assemblies to walk in practical unity as members of the Body of Christ and to maintain "the unity of the Spirit," in the bond of peace. May the true and Scriptural relationship of unity and corporate responsibility and fellowship be maintained between Assemblies.

R. K. Campbell