Unity's Exalted Purpose

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Unity

By THEODORE CARCICH"

REVIEW AND HERALD, March 12, 1970

That the world may know." John 17:23.

CHRIST'S intercessory prayer in the seventeenth chapter of John moves majestically in its focus from the Father to the Son, to the disciples, to the entire church, and then to the outlying world. Here the devout believer gains an insight into the profound purposes of the Almighty for His church.Reverent, poignant, and inclusive are the words of the divine Pleader in behalf of His followers: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:23).

This unity, when consummated, evokes the world's acknowledgment that God sent Christ into the world.Although the chief purpose of Creation and redemption is to glorify God in Christ, the fullness of that purpose is best recognized when diverse human beings, united into one body by Christ's atonement, demonstrate the kind of community the rest of humanity works for but cannot achieve.Consequently, the church constantly needs to sanctify and consecrate itself, not to the opinion of the world, but to the direction and judgment of God in Christ. Likewise, the church's standard of conduct and service must be taken, not from changing custom or secular norm, but from a Person with whom the church experiences intimate communion and fellowship. In every age, clime, and culture, the following obligation holds true for the Christian: "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).Sacred history, Pentecost in particular, eloquently testifies that this union of humanity with divinity is capable of breaking through to the otherwise closed mind of the world. Men are convinced of the gospel's efficacy when they witness the ultimate reconciliation of man with God and man with man."In Christ there is no east nor west. In Him no south or north;

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UNITY'S

Exalted Purpose

But one great fellowship of love Throughout the whole wide earth."

—JOHN OXINI1AM

That the world is in desperate need of such unity, no one will dispute. Presently the division runs deep between the poor and rich, the young and old, the learned and unlearned, the black and white, the left and right, the pious and impious, and the gulf is getting wider. In the midst of this baleful disunity, the remnant church, in answer to Christ's prayer, unites diverse individuals from every nation under the banner, "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 4:I2).

Thus what the wisdom of man fails to accomplish the grace of God does Of course, this does not please the devil You can be sure that the prince of this world will not sit idly by as the church seeks greater power for its spiritual warfare

Hence when the battle is engaged the devil would divide the church by arguing where the battle line should be drawn. Accordingly, the battle ceases while theorists debate and theologians split hairs In essence the devil effectively stalls the church by deflecting the vision of its members from their true purpose and turning them upon one another.

In imagination we can almost hear the devil counseling his cohorts "Incite jealousy, envy, pride and factionalism among Christ's followers Provoke national racial theological and organizational controversy among the remnant Keep them arguing and fussing with one another so that they will have no time to take their message to the world By all means encourage them in divisive speculation and contention so that they cannot fulfill the prayer of Christ

Far fetched you say? Not when one reads the startling chapter entitled "The Snares of Satan" in Testimonies to Ministers. In it Satan is represented as saying to his angels "But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbath keepers We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate."—Pages 473-475.

Sensing the enemy's cunning and our own frailty, would we not do well to agree that the doctrines and beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church separate it from the direction in which the world is traveling? Surely the cross, the resurrection, the judgment, and the second coming of Christ call for a different way of life and conversation on the part of those who profess loyalty to the central Person of these doctrines.

Manifestly, we are sent into the world, but are not of it; and we are not taken out of the world, but we are surely separated from its pride, lust, and wickedness.

Hence, among believers the bond of unity transcends race, nationality, and position. The Spirit of Christ in one recognizes the same Spirit in another—"for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). At all times and in all places, Christ is enthroned and self is subordinated in those seeking to answer the prayer of Christ.

We can further agree that the entire ministerial function of the church is charged with the fulfillment of Christ's prayer. Whatever the institution, enterprise, agency, or department, this is the chief purpose of its existence. "The cross is the center of all religious institutions. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, every work of God's appointment is to be elevated and ennobled, and made to witness for the Lord. Man must place himself under the control of the eternal mind whose dictates he is to obey in every particular."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 241.

"By the union of church members with Christ and with one another the transforming power of the gospel is to be diffused throughout the world." —mid., p. 240.

It is significant that the coming General Conference session in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has adopted for its motto a phrase from the prayer of our Lord in John 17:23—"That the world may know? This indicates that the leaden of the church sensing the purposes of the Eternal, look upon this great gathering as an opportunity for the Spirit of God to unite the people, institutions, and resources of the church in answer to Christ's prayer.

As individuals we may not be able to attend this worldwide gathering or be able to serve in some outstanding capacity, but we certainly can do our part in fulfilling Christ's prayer.

Why not begin now? Why not let the beauty of Jesus be seen and felt in our life, our home, our church, our neighborhood? Why not begin praying that the Holy Spirit will brood over the representatives of God's church gathered together in the General Conference session so that love and unity will prevail throughout?

We need not puzzle and guess as to what this unity calls for and what it will accomplish. God, through His servant, supplies the answer: "The unity of the church is the convincing evidence that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer."—Thid., vol. 5, p. 620.

"The people of Cod will draw together and present to the enemy a united front. In view of the common peril,, strife for supremacy will cease; there will be no disputing as to who shall be accounted greatest.

"Thus will the truth be brought into practical life, and thus will be answered the prayer of Christ, uttered just before His humiliation and death: 'That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me John 11 :21, The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord."—Ibid., vol. 6, p. 401.

Already we can sense the growing love Of Christ and of one another among God's people. This unity will prevail. Matched by loving service and sacrificial giving on the part of all 'church members, the message will swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will blaze with the glory of the Lord. Then "he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb. 10: So be it! Amen.