Our goal as overcomers in loving Jesus is acting like Jesus by keeping (from being stolen) and observing (the Greek word: tereo) His commandments (rules). There’s a fact that we already are in unity through and in Jesus and we just need to diligently preserve it:
1 John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to WALK IN THE SAME MANNER AS HE WALKED.
Then we bring glory to the Father:
John 17:4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me
One of the main ways we receive His glory now on this earth (John 17.22, 2 Cor. 3.18, 1 Pt. 1.8, Rom. 8.30, Psalm 8.5, etc.), and then bring glory to Him, is being perfected in unity, especially when we disagree, so that the unsaved world can be led back to God:
John 17:22-23 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.
It might be sequenced like this:
1. glory from God now: then when…
2. disagreement arises: we must be…
3. finding the Lord’s mind: which will allow us to be…
4. perfected in unity: which then brings…
5. glory back to God: so then the…
6. unsaved world sees God loves us and Jesus: to result in the…
7. unsaved led back to Him: which fulfills the eternal purpose of God…growing the kingdom of the Ancient of Days!
What was the Acts 15 situation? It was a reoccurring disagreement over Gentiles salvation (also see Acts 11.2 earlier), i.e. law or grace, how are they saved?
Observations from the narrative:
Verse 1 – Judean men come to Antioch and begin falsely teaching the brethren Gentiles you must be circumcised to be saved
V 2 – Paul (P) and Barnabas (B) have great dissension (rigorous debate) with Judean men; the brethren, WHOLE CHURCH in Antioch, are involved in decision to send them to Jerusalem to apostles and elders there
Note: the same Greek word used to: 1) describe dissention here in V 2 is also used in the Gospels in Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19, Luke 23:25; 2) describe a riot in Acts 19:40, and 3) more dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, Paul and crowds in Acts 23:7, Acts 23:10, Acts 24:5
V 3 – great joy as P & B relay the Gentiles conversion; notice no mention of any complaints over the debate
V 4 – P & B welcomed and received by the church and the apostles and elders
V 6, 7 – Much debate between P & B and apostles and elders
V 12 – “All the people” indicates the whole gathering, the body, was there (see v 4) as P & B relay signs and wonders God performed among Gentiles, a proof of His pleasure in them
V 13 – James waits until after P & B had stopped speaking, assuming uninterrupted speech
V 22 – Seemed “good” (vs. direct speaking from Holy Spirit like Acts 13.2) to apostles, elders, with whole gathering to choose other men to accompany P & B back to Antioch with the letter detailing the 3 points
The Church’s Decree, Craig Keener in IVP Bible Background Commentary – 15:22. When views were disputed in the later rabbinic academies, the majority view always prevailed; here a partial compromise (in favor of the Antioch church) seems to command consensus. Other Jewish groups also had “general sessions,” such as at Qumran, where the priests, elders and people would gather.
V 25 – “having become ONE MIND” – they worked at it, some maybe putting aside their claims in favor on a broader unity
V 31 – the whole Antioch congregation gathered, and greatly rejoiced because of its encouragement
Their methods were reflective of the kingdom of God:
¨ Wanted and went seeking the Lord’s mind, the Truth
¨ Humble in heart, poor in spirit, but not silent or shy and retiring
¨ Listened and questioned – seek to understand first, then to be understood
¨ Discuss, debate, “not a little” the Word says in V 2
¨ Willing to put aside some differences, but not put aside sin in peoples life, i.e. not OK to let the Judeans keep preaching that false message, or people trying to live it
¨ Prayer, council, get opinions
And…a church split is avoided!
4 Worldly methods are reflective of the kingdom of the world:
1. Quietly disappear, but not after first “discussing” the parties “faults” behind their back with no intention of collectively seeking the mind of the Lord for unity
2. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right), then disappear
3. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right), then leave, others leave too but go separate ways
4. “Discuss” – argue, maybe yell (you’re wrong, I’m right) then disappear, taking others to form new group
Finding His mind, i.e. getting from Point A to B with all parties takes time, patiently loving each other to hear each other out; accepting one another, being subject to one another, teaching one another, admonishing one another = loving one another
…Or:
a) arrogantly thinking our way is the only way and one needs to first convince the other person that he is wrong, i.e. it’s going from Point A (the disagreement) to your personal Point B without open and protracted debate, then the debate goes on and on from B, to B, to B, or..
b) the alternative often happens when people cave in before an agreement is reached (becoming “peacekeepers” vs. peacemakers), causing a false consensus to appear in the interest of real agreement. In either case, the disagreement is never resolved, and we efface the glory of God by our eventual disunity.
How might we find the Lord’s mind, then?
Active Listening:
1. Accept one another (except perhaps a proven evil worker or dog)
2. Have some meals together, celebrate Jesus
3. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
4. Give full attention:
¨ make eye contact,
¨ acknowledge the words spoken
¨ Don’t just wait to talk, i.e. staring off to think of a response, shuffle through Bible, maybe seeing how you might top the story
5. Be patient by letting them finish, don’t interrupt
6. Ask questions to clarify their position and opinion
7. Repeat their position back to them for complete understanding
8. Pause before response
9. Confirm your love for them
10. Don’t agree if you don’t
11. OK to ask others for advice
12. Ask if they care to look in the word, may take time and several sessions
13. Pray to Jesus for help from His Holy Spirit
Remember:
¨ Be at peace with all men as much as it depends on you.
¨ Most American’s have been taught to convince you you’re wrong and they’re right, and to reject you when you don’t agree with them.
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From The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
Resolving conflict with Four basic principles:
1) Glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Biblical peacemaking is motivated and directed by a desire to please and honor God. His interests, reputations, and commands should take precedence over all other considerations. This focus not only shows our love and respect for God but also protects us from the impulsive, self-centered decisions that make conflicts even worse.
2) Get the log out of your eye (Matt. 7:5). Peacemaking requires facing up to our own attitudes, faults, and responsibilities before pointing out what others have done wrong. Overlooking the minor offenses of others and honestly admitting our own faults often will encourage similar responses from our opponents and open the way for candid dialogue, reconciliation, and constructive negotiation.
3) Go and show your brother his fault (Matt. 18:15). At times peacemaking also requires constructive confrontation. When others fail to accept responsibility for their actions, we may need to confront them in a gracious yet firm manner. If they refuse to respond appropriately, we may need to involve respected friends, church leaders, or other neutral individuals who can help restore peace.
4) Go and be reconciled (Matt. 5:24). Finally, peacemaking involves a commitment to restoring damaged relationships and developing agreements that are just and satisfactory to everyone involved. Forgiveness and cooperative negotiation clear away the debris left by conflict and make possible reconciliation and genuine peace
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Steve Cornell says
Thanks so much for this thoughtful walk through and to consensus. God’s best is always worth working hard for!
Attended a meeting where Revival was discussed…I asked the speaker if it was worth it for unity’s sake to suspend some of our “liberties” in the Spirit to bring our “reformed” brothers and sisters on board for the next wave this fellow was predicting and he declared that we should not settle for less but insist that the others rise to our level. My thought there was-“so much for unity!”
jesusislord says
Brother Steve —
Thanks for the insightful comment here! Yes, we’ve noticed that almost all so-called believers will agree to the basic elements of unity — until the time comes for them to actually enter in and commit themselves to that end.
May we be the saints that truly give ourselves to the King in this most vital and needed ministry — the ministry of reconciliation..
I am your brother, dear one.
Marc
Theresa Gomes says
Marc,
This is such a valuable teaching and you really laid it out well. You hit the nail on the head when you said, “Most American’s have been taught to convince you you’re wrong and they’re right, and to reject you when you don’t agree with them.”
I wonder if part of why we don’t follow your prescribed biblical methods of working through differences is that Americans just don’t have the TIME it takes to work through problems in the Spirit. Or we just don’t want to take the time to promote peace. All the church divisions are explained by the lack of unity/peacekeeping efforts as modeled in the Bible.
So insightful – keep up the good teaching!
Blessings, Theresa
jesusislord says
Thanks dear sister Teresa — we pray that all of us here at Walk Worthy and all the brethren will never stonewall again, and of course to never practice it!
Brother Marc
Kathie Whitestone Thompson says
Thank you, Marc, for directing me here today. I think I have yet to see these steps to unity as set out here actually in action. I agree with another commenter that, time is a factor. Perhaps people are convinced their time is indeed THEIR time. Or perhaps there is a lack of love for The LORD and for one another which to me would be the root reason people do not work through these steps when disagreements arise. And ignorance, maybe. It’s just not taught — people just don’t know. I’m not saying it is an excuse — just reality here in America.
Thanks again.
jesusislord says
Sister Kathie,
Thanks for your kind words. My experience with countless church people here in the west proves that 99.9% of them have no interest in pursuing the true way of God in preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Yes, many are ignorant…in the beginning. But once made aware of the command, they default to the false demonic doctrine of “agree to disagree.” I’ve had at least three Walk Worthy board members over the years that steadfastly refused to search together to find unity on things they didn’t like about what we taught. Obviously, they departed the board or I removed them. But they just didn’t leave and then agreed to disagree only. No, they disappeared never to be heard from again. It was very painful. Like someone who you truly thought had a deep and abiding relationship for years and years just changing the TV station. These shallow self-centered people are everywhere in our disposal society.
My wife Sharron has asked me on more than one occasion if this unity has ever happened in my Christian life over the last 35 years. No, I reply, even though I’ve made it available to 100’s of church people. But, I tell her, it is the heart of the Lord Jesus (John 17 – “that they be one as We are one”) and I’ll go to my grave trying to bring unity in the truth. If the early Acts 15 church of thousands can accomplish this in a day and avoid the first possible church split, we must do likewise.
Every blessing dear one as you follow the Master closely!
Brother Marc