Barriers To Unity

The state of what is commonly referred to as “Christendom,” those who claim to follow Jesus, is terribly divided.  There are well over 1000 different churches all claiming to follow Jesus.  An examination of their doctrinal positions will quickly reveal most hold some positions which are opposed to, and contradictory of, some positions held by others. This is not pleasing to Jesus for He prayed for unity among believers in John 17:20,21. Jesus prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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.”  Paul dealt with the problem of division in Corinth.  He wrote, “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:” (I Corinthians 1:10).  The divided state existing today does not please the Lord.  What are some barriers existing today preventing the unity Jesus both desires and requires?

The first barrier is spiritual blindness.  Jesus addressed this problem in Matthew 15 when the disciples came with their concern over the Pharisees being offended.  Jesus said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).  These were blind because they refused to critically examine their faith.  Saul of Tarsus was one who was extremely devout toward God.  But once he was confronted with undeniable evidence he changed. However, many of the Jewish leaders were not of the same mind set.  When he converted to Christianity, they did not inquire as to why, they blindly attacked him, even to the point of attempting to kill him.  Until one is willing to examine his or her faith through the lens of Bible teaching, it is a blind faith.

The second barrier is willful false teachers.  Paul addressed this problem in I Timothy 4 where he wrote, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Timothy 4:1, 2).  Notice these teachers speak lies in hypocrisy.  They know what they teach is not true, yet they present it as if they believe it is.  Their consciences no longer work, they no longer feel guilt about presenting lies as truth.

Why?  One reason for their false teaching is personal financial gain. Peter made the statement about false teachers: “through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Peter 2:3).  Ever heard a “television evangelist” ask for a “gift” or “love offering” for something?

The third barrier involves people who are not interested in what God has said, but rather have a desire to hear what sounds good.  Paul addressed this in 2 Timothy 4 with these words: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3, 4).  When one is unwilling to hear what the Bible really says, but wants support and comfort for what they want, you cannot expect to find unity.  These are not interested in the Lord’s command issued through Paul as quoted above. These simply want support for what they want.

All three conditions above are sources of division.  May we all seek to see the truth, desire the truth, and oppose false teaching for the sake of biblical unity.

—Denny