““And do not be And do not be conformed to conformed to this world, but this world, but be transformed be transformed by the renewing by the renewing of your mind…of your mind…””

Romans 12:1-2

Renewed View Renewed View Biblical UnityBiblical Unity

Unity Of The Spirit: Unity Of The Spirit: Eph. 4:1-6Eph. 4:1-6 Created By The Spirit Maintained By Brethren Takes Characteristics From

Godhead Formed By Truth Of Gospel

Uniform Teaching Of Uniform Teaching Of ScriptureScripture

1 Cor. 1:101 Cor. 1:10 Jude 3Jude 3 Jn. 17:20-21Jn. 17:20-21 2 Tim. 1:132 Tim. 1:13 2 Tim. 4:1-52 Tim. 4:1-5 1 Pt. 4:111 Pt. 4:11 1 Cor. 4:171 Cor. 4:17

Unity: An Impossible Dream?

Division Is Fact TodayDivision Is Fact Today Among Denominations Among Churches of Christ

Compare: Compare: Acts 2:42; 4:32-33Acts 2:42; 4:32-33 Early Problems ExistedEarly Problems Existed

Acts 5; Epistles Doctrinal, Immorality, Etc Epistles Written To Correct

Early Efforts In America

In Matters Of Faith: In Matters Of Faith: UnityUnity

In Matters of Opinion: In Matters of Opinion: LibertyLiberty

In All Things: In All Things: CharityCharity

Result Of Those Efforts

Common Savior Common Faith, Plan of Salvation Common Worship Common Work Common View Of Scriptures When Divisions Arose, Appeals To

Scripture Was Final Appeal

A New Approach Suggested:

“Unity In Diversity” ““If unity is a matter of seeing the Bible eye If unity is a matter of seeing the Bible eye

to eye, then believers will never be united, to eye, then believers will never be united, for they never have and never will see the for they never have and never will see the Bible alike. And if believers ever have Bible alike. And if believers ever have been united, such as in the early centuries been united, such as in the early centuries (and other times as well) when they died (and other times as well) when they died together for their faith…...together for their faith…...

““…….it was not because of doctrinal .it was not because of doctrinal agreement upon the Bible but because of agreement upon the Bible but because of their common devotion to Jesus Christ.their common devotion to Jesus Christ.”” (Leroy Garrett, Restoration Review, Dec. 1987)(Leroy Garrett, Restoration Review, Dec. 1987)

• Doctrinal Unity Not PossibleDoctrinal Unity Not Possible• Unity Only Possible Toward JesusUnity Only Possible Toward Jesus• A New Unity Movement Based On A A New Unity Movement Based On A ““Gospel - DoctrineGospel - Doctrine”” Distinction Distinction

• Gospel: Facts About JesusGospel: Facts About Jesus’’ Deity Deity• Doctrine: Accept All BeliefsDoctrine: Accept All Beliefs

““Like it or not, we are brothers and sisters Like it or not, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. That brothers differ on the in Christ. That brothers differ on the millennium, work of the Holy Spirit, millennium, work of the Holy Spirit, church organization, instrumental music, church organization, instrumental music, having a glass of wine, the role of women having a glass of wine, the role of women in church leadership, and a dozen, dozen in church leadership, and a dozen, dozen other issues does not change the fact that other issues does not change the fact that they are all children of God.they are all children of God.”” Rubel Shelly, Rubel Shelly, ““A Call To Action,A Call To Action,”” p. 5)p. 5)

Grace Covers Sin ““The present frontier is the frontier of a The present frontier is the frontier of a

grace-based fellowship with all our grace-based fellowship with all our brothers and sisters in Christ. A truth brothers and sisters in Christ. A truth began to dawn on us in the 1960began to dawn on us in the 1960’’s and 70s and 70’’s s and increasingly through the 1980and increasingly through the 1980’’s. That s. That truth is that Godtruth is that God’’s grace extends not only s grace extends not only to our moral imperfections but also to our to our moral imperfections but also to our doctrinal short-comings.doctrinal short-comings.”” (Gary Pearson, (Gary Pearson, ““Image MagazineImage Magazine”” Sept/Oct, 1993 p. 32)Sept/Oct, 1993 p. 32)

Right About Christ ---- Wrong About

Doctrine ““What is the basis of oneWhat is the basis of one’’s hope before God? s hope before God?

Is it not that we sustain a right Is it not that we sustain a right relationship with God through Christ? …relationship with God through Christ? …In other words - if one is right about In other words - if one is right about Christ, then that one can be wrong about Christ, then that one can be wrong about some doctrinal instruction without being some doctrinal instruction without being lost, can he not?lost, can he not?”” Arnold Hardin, Arnold Hardin, ““The PersuaderThe Persuader””

““On what basis do we establish the bounds On what basis do we establish the bounds of Christian unity? That is the crucial of Christian unity? That is the crucial question that lies before us. Are individual question that lies before us. Are individual fellowship and congregational unity based fellowship and congregational unity based on total agreement? Historical reality on total agreement? Historical reality denies that unanimity existed in New denies that unanimity existed in New Testament congregations or that it exists Testament congregations or that it exists today. Is there, then, a scriptural basis for today. Is there, then, a scriptural basis for maintaining unity when brethren maintaining unity when brethren disagree?...disagree?...

““……If so, what are the limits of the concept of If so, what are the limits of the concept of unity in diversity?unity in diversity?”” (Ed Harrell, The Bound of Christian Unity (2), (Ed Harrell, The Bound of Christian Unity (2), Christianity MagazineChristianity Magazine, March 1989, p. 6, March 1989, p. 6

Doctrinal Unity Did Not Exist In NT Doctrinal Unity Did Not Exist In NT TimesTimes

Doctrinal Unity Does Not Exist TodayDoctrinal Unity Does Not Exist Today Only Unity In Diversity Is PossibleOnly Unity In Diversity Is Possible Provides Toleration For ErrorProvides Toleration For Error

Recall Acts 2:42; 4:32; 1 Cor 1

““There should be room in the Christian There should be room in the Christian fellowship for those who believe that fellowship for those who believe that Christ is the son of God, but who differ on Christ is the son of God, but who differ on eschatological theories such as eschatological theories such as premillennialism, ecclesiological matters premillennialism, ecclesiological matters such as congregational organization, on such as congregational organization, on soteriological matters such as whether soteriological matters such as whether baptism is baptism is ‘‘forfor’’ or or ‘‘becausebecause’’ remission of remission of sins.sins.”” Carrol Osburn, Carrol Osburn, ““The Peaceable Kingdom, 1993, pp 90-91)The Peaceable Kingdom, 1993, pp 90-91)

Misuse Of Romans 14Focal Point Of Error

“It is obvious that Christians sometimes disagree about spiritual instruction even in matters of considerable moral and doctrinal import. That behavior uniformly practiced throughout the history of Christianity is, I believe, the issue addressed in Romans 14.”

Ed Harrell, “The Bounds of Christian Unity,” CM)

Toleration Of Error? ““Romans 14 tolerates contradictory Romans 14 tolerates contradictory

teachings and practices on important teachings and practices on important moral and doctrinal questions.moral and doctrinal questions.”” Ed Harrell, Ed Harrell, ““The Bounds of Christian Unity,The Bounds of Christian Unity,”” CM) CM)

Tolerate Contradictory Teachings Tolerate Contradictory Teachings and Practicesand Practices

Cover Differences By Romans 14Cover Differences By Romans 14

Why Has Romans 14 Been Perverted?

• Teaching of Error on MDR• Attempt to Justify Continued Fellowship

with Those Teaching Error vs. 2 Jn. 9-11• James 2:1-9 - Sin of Partiality• Issue Has Spread to Other Areas

Social Drinking Immodesty, Gambling, Doctrines

Is Unity Possible In Our Time?

• Remember Teaching Of Bible• Apply To Every Bible Subject• Use Patience, Longsuffering

1 Thess. 5:14 Jude 20-23 Eph. 4:1-3

Is Unity Possible On:

• Plan Of Salvation? (Fellowship?)• Identity Of Church? (Fellowship?)• Work and Worship Of Church? (“)• Moral Living? (Fellowship?)• All Will Not Believe 1 Jn. 2:19• Remember 1 Cor. 1:11-13• Christ Is Not Divided. Let Us Be One!

Uniform Teaching Of Scripture

1 Cor. 1:101 Cor. 1:10 Jude 3Jude 3 Jn. 17:20-21Jn. 17:20-21 2 Tim. 1:132 Tim. 1:13 2 Tim. 4:1-52 Tim. 4:1-5 1 Pt. 4:111 Pt. 4:11 1 Cor. 4:171 Cor. 4:17