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 People
talk as though finding a workable plan is the only obstacle to
unity among men. That is not so.
The
pope has a plan that guarded unity in the Catholic Church for
centuries. It could produce unity for all men. The pope
settles all questions and makes all decisions — “Do exactly
as I say.” That plan will work — all will be one — If all
will unquestioningly accept his decrees.
The
unitarians plead for unity based upon compromise. No person is
to advocate anything that conflicts with the ideas of another
person. “I won’t believe anything if you won’t” is the
result. The mutual ground is unbelief — no conviction. Yet
unity can be achieved IF all compromise enough.
I
know a sure plan for unity. Burn all Bibles and religious books.
Ban religious instruction for one life span. All will be
ignorant of truth. All will be enemies of God through ignorance
(Eph. 4:18). All will walk together
on the same road — the road to hell. Well, that is unity. too!
God
planned for unity among men. He wants all men to be of one mind
(Phil. 1:27). The Bible is the basis for that unity. If all men
believe the truth and practice only the truth unity will
prevail. All will be of one heart and soul (Acts 4:32). Paul’s
plea to be of one mind (1 Cor. 1:10) was neither empty nor
impossible. The apostles had “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor.
2:16). All who accept their teaching will be of one mind by
letting “this mind be in you, which was also in Christ”
(Phil. 2:5).
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Why
then have men not achieved a complete unity? All schemes fail to
produce world-wide unity for the same reason — all men will
not pay the price. The pope’s plan fails because all will not
bow to him. Many — including Catholics — will not sacrifice
their convictions to be “one” with the unitarians. Likewise,
multitudes refuse the Bible as law. They will not pay the price
for being one with God and believers (Jno. 17:20,21). Lets not
throw God’s plan out the window because all will not “buy it”.
It is still the best plan available.
Unity
between believers and unbelievers is both impossible and
undesirable. Christ came to divide the obedient from the
rebellious (Matt. 10: 34). Such division is of the Lord (1
King. 12:24) who expects his saints to be separate from the
world (2 Cor. 6: 14-18). Love for truth must come before love
for peace with men.
A
man who determines to “seek... first the kingdom of God. and
his righteousness” (Mt. 6:33) may find himself alienated from
friends. The result may even be”.. no man stood with me, but
all men forsook me notwithstanding the Lord stood with me” (2
Tim. 4: 16,17). However, he will soon discover a common bond
with the other kingdom seekers. Love for God and truth will draw
them toward each other. Patience in personal matters will grow
from respect for each other and open Bibles will produce one
faith (Eph. 4:5). They approach being one in Christ as
the mind of Christ rules each one (Phil.
2:5) Joe Fitch
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