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Unity Among the Chosen Ones Trinity Bible Church 10/22/06
Introduction: John 17:6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. NKJV An older man is on the operating table awaiting surgery. He has insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. He is about to receive the anesthesia when he asks to speak to his son. "Yes, Dad, what is it?" "Don't be nervous, do your best, and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife." That dad wanted unity. He wanted his son to be unified w/him and be just as concerned as he was about the success of the operation! How serious is the subject of unity in your life and in the life of your church? Very! What happens when couples aren’t in unity? The strain can be so bad the marriage may end up in a divorce. What happens when family relationships go bad? It takes years before they ever talk again, (or maybe never). In church relationships it is pretty much the same, but Jesus is praying for His chosen ones! I. Who Are the Chosen? A. A Gift to the Son John 17:6, 9 "I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word. NLT "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. NKJV What are other Biblical words used to describe these people? Chosen, Elect, Foreknown, Predestined, the Glorified Ones… They were chosen out of the world, not because of any goodness in themselves. They were chosen by God because in His sovereign plan, it pleases Him to take a group fit for destruction and call them His own and then give them to His Son. 2 Tim 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, NKJV Eph 1:11-12; 2:8-10 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV 1 Peter 1:2; 2:9-10 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. NKJV There are many more such verses, but these are here to help you see who these chosen ones are, how much they belong to God, and are His special work. B. Who are “The Chosen”? John Piper tells us; see Pleasures of God, p. 138 II. What Does the Son of God do for the Chosen Ones? A. Gives eternal life John 17:2-3 You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. Jesus define what this eternal life looks like; it, among other evidences, must have faith at it’s core - a repenting sinner must believe in God and in His Son to be saved. 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NASU B. Manifest His name John 17:6 I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world NASU What does this mean, “manifested”? I have revealed you NIV [I have revealed Your very Self, Your real Self] AMP When one looks into the life of Christ, one sees the life of the Father as well. C. Teaches them God’s truth John 17:7-8 (see also vs. 17). Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; NKJV D. Shepherds them John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. NKJV What does this mean, “kept them”? I was keeping them… and I guarded them NASU I protected them and kept them safe NIV Who keeps you and I in the Kingdom of God? Jesus does! *What is that equipment called on the playground that if one sits on it and someone else spins it around you can get thrown off? Merry-go-round? Where is the safest place on it? Right in the center! Do you know that Jesus is “right in the center” of God’s kingdom? Where do you suppose the safest place is? He is still the Good Shepherd and He still is shepherding His own today! E. Sends them John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. NKJV We all know we’re “supposed” to witness but really, Who has sent you? In Whose name do we tell others about the power of the gospel? Does it depend on your power of persuasion or on the One Who sent you? F. Intercedes for them! John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; NKJV What does He pray? Many things in John 17, but one thing I want to focus just briefly on; that they might be one or in unity. D. M. Lloyd Jones, The Basis of Christian Unity, p. 10 commenting on verse 11. You notice He uses the word keep…Nowhere in this chapter is there an exhortation or an appeal to produce a unity. Our Lord is saying that the unity is already there, already in existence. Lloyd Jones goes on to describe who these are that are in unity, but myself being a pastor of almost 30 years I was startled by this concept. I dare say I don’t remember hearing it before or even thinking about it in this way. God already has a people; chosen by Him, given to His Son; they are in unity with each other just as the Trinity is in unity with each other. The intercession of the Son is that they may be “kept”, not that they might obtain unity! If I think hard about this, it makes sense now why, throughout my 30 years in ministry, why some didn’t want to come to a water baptismal service; why they didn’t want to come to a church picnic; why they didn’t want to be part of the life of the church at prayer meetings or special events. Did any have a legitimate excuse if they couldn’t attend on a rare occasion? Sure, but when a person habitually makes efforts not to be together with others in the same church, it may be an indication they are yet needing the gift of salvation and it ought to be the subject of earnest prayer, not as we usually are made to feel which is that we haven’t made a good enough effort to involve them, get their input, etc… *What does the Son of God do for His chosen ones? Much! III. What Does the Unity of the Chosen Ones Look Like? A. Unity will glorify Jesus. John 17:10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. TEV How do the chosen glorify Jesus? One way is the future. We, the redeemed, will be in heaven and that will be to His glory. He will be seen as the One that purchased this great throng of people from every tribe and tongue. Just our presence in heaven will be a glory to Him for what He did on the cross to pay for our sins. B. Our unity is to glorify Him now. According to John 17, how do we glorify Him here on earth? 1. Believe and Receive the Word John 17:8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. NKJV Have you? Do you hear the “Good News” today? God has a remedy for the sins that plague you. That remedy is to look, not to yourself to try to win His approval, but to Christ on the Cross and believe that He died for you. 2. Keep the Word John 17:6 they have kept Your word. NKJV What does it mean, “have kept”? they have obeyed your word NIV *On the way to church this morning a man was walking his golden retriever out to a field. The dog was happily running on both sides of him looking expectantly up to his master. It was if he was totally consumed in obedience. It was the dog’s joy to do whatever his master wanted him to do. Do you want to obey Him today? Do you desire to keep what your Master has told you to do? If so, know this that it is purely a matter of daily living out the truths of God’s word! 3. Suffer because of the Word John 17:13-15 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. NKJV Are you or have you ever been treated poorly because you have followed Jesus instead of what your family or friends wanted you to do? Then know that you are in good company, the company of the Son of God! 4. Confess the Word John 17:17-20 Conclusion: I’m going to conclude with this last thought, Confess the Word. But first, let’s rehearse some of what we have discovered in John 17 today; 1. Who are the chosen ones? 2. What does the Son do for His chosen ones? And 3. What does unity look like? We’ve found out that unity glorifies Jesus, how? By His followers– a. Believing His word. b. Keeping His word. c. Suffering patiently because of His word; d. and finally - By His followers confessing His word. John 17:17-20 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; NKJV Even though we are destined for heaven, for a little while we are left here on earth, what are we here for? We are here to tell others what great things God has done for us. We are left here on earth to preach the Gospel! As we close in prayer, can you think of someone that needs to hear the Gospel? Let’s take the remaining time we have together to pray for them. (For further study) John 17:6 I have manifested Your Name [I have revealed Your very Self, Your real Self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have obeyed and kept Your word. AMP For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them; and they have received and accepted [them] and have come to know positively and in reality [to believe with absolute assurance] that I came forth from Your presence, and they have believed and are convinced that You did send Me. John 17:8 AMP Note the following: as an individual Paul was “separated... from his (my) mother’s whom ... to reveal His [God’s] Son in me”, (Gal 1: 15-16). Rufus is “chosen in the Lord” (Rom 16: 13), John writes “to the elect Lady” (2 John 1), and Jacob was elect before birth, having done neither good nor evil (Rom 9:11). Churches are seen in like manner. Paul says of the Corinthians that they were a chosen people neither wise, noble, nor strong (1 Cor 1 :26ff). Paul could see in the Thessalonicans their election (1 Thess 1:4-5), and the Ephesians saints were chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Most important of all, Christians in general are given the title “elect” in many New Testament passages. Again I say this not to start a debate but to solidify the equality of Christians toward the end goal of Christian unity – that is, oneness in Christ. We are called “God’s elect” (Rom 8:33; Tit 1:1), “the elect of God” (Col 3:12), and “a chosen generation” (1 Pet 2:9). God “chose us from the beginning to salvation” (2 Thess 2:13) and Paul declared he endured all things “for the sake of God’s elect” (2 Tim 2:10). Is such a desire and call for Christian charity and unity a profound act of naiveté on my part? If so, then I am comforted by my good company. Jesus prayed to the Father, “that they [the disciples] may be one as we are” (John 17:11). Paul admonishes, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…” (Rom. 12:10), and Peter writes, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter. 3:8-9). Surely, to fail here is to fail everywhere, for if we do not have love, we have “become sounding brass or a clanging symbol” (1 Cor. 13:1). David declares, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). Striving for Christian unity and harmony begins with each of us individually resolving to implement the biblical requirement of humility and brotherly love. We must seek the good our brothers in Christ—even in wrath, remembering mercy. “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:26-28). “For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:3). See assorted topics about unity at: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/unity.html
What
Constitutes the Unity of The Church?
Church? In an attempt to keep the discussion as practical as possible, in this article we will concentrate on what constitutes the unity of the church institute. By church institute is meant a congregation/s (denomination) of believers and their children (Acts 3:39,47) gathered by the gospel, ministered to, and ruled by lawfully called and ordained office-bearers (Eph.4:11ff; Titus 1:5ff; 1Tim.3). Christ’s church in the world manifests the marks of a true church, namely upholding of the truth of God’s word, regulating its worship by the word, and maintaining biblical church discipline. Such a church is a member of the world wide church which is the house of God, and the pillar and ground of the truth (2Tim.3:15). Churches? We recognise that particular churches that make up the one church of Christ in the world can be more or less pure, according as the marks of the true church are maintained and practiced more or less purely in them. This was always the case, as we observe from the church in Corinth which was described as carnal (1Cor.3:1) and from the seven churches of Revelation 2-3. The church as an organism in the world, like the individual believer, struggles to maintain its spiritual integrity and purity. There is a tendency for churches, under the constant buffeting of Satan, to slide into error, deadness and apostasy. Two truths follow from this. First, there is much impurity in any particular church, which impurity is never condoned by Christ (Rev.2:5). Second, the true church must always be re-forming itself back to God’s word by repentance and returning to the truth, to its first love and its first works. This historic process of apostasy and reform explains, in part, the fragmentation of the church (1Cor. 11:19). Two Views of Unity. How to manifest unity? That is the question. There are two basic views abroad as to what constitutes unity within Protestant churches. Let’s take a brief look at them. First, the modern ecumenical (church unity) movement presents its answers. This movement seems to divide itself into various degrees. Firstly, there are those out in left field who seek the unity of all religions. Unity then is when people who believe in a god (transcendence) recognise one another as believers and, looking past all doctrinal and practical differences, join in love, worship and service. Secondly, there is broad Christian ecumenism, which seeks to rub out all denominational boundaries within Christianity. This type of unity gives rise to non-denominational fellowships and organisations, inclusive enough to embrace all who profess to be Christian. Thirdly, there are those who still see some importance in what is believed, and insist upon agreement in certain basic Christian doctrines. These basics, however, are kept to a bare minimum so as to minimise disagreement and disunity. The ecumenical church unity movement is well on the way to uniting Evangelicals and Roman-Catholics so they can work together in the third millennium. None of these ecumenical attempts provide a valid and God honouring answer. Why? Because they all, in their own way, buy unity at the price of truth (Prov. 23:23). That may never be done by the true church of Christ, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. We must look elsewhere for a principle of unity that honours God and does not sell the truth. Second, the Christian church, at least until recent times, has insisted upon a different solution. That solution put in question form is this: How can two walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3:3). The implied answer is, they can’t, first they must be agreed. Such unity/agreement requires a like understanding of the truths of God’s word. It is important to see that the same word of God that determines the church’s teaching/doctrine also determines how the church must worship and be governed. Thus, the word of God gives rise to the three marks of the true church. Human feelings or personal hobby-horses (emphases) may not be allowed to govern the church’s doctrine or practice (Matt.15:9). Scripture alone determines the church’s doctrine and practice (1Tim.3:16; Titus 2:1). This foundational truth of Scripture alone provides the basis for the church’s practical unity. Everyone submits to the same standard! Understanding that agreement in truth is of the essence of unity, the historic Christian church has formulated its confession. A confession is a clear statement of what the church believes the Scriptures to teach. In that public confession a great many diverse members gather as one to declare: "I believe ..." Thus, in a like confession the church finds its unity and strength; for it stands fast in one spirit with one mind (Phil.1:27), speaks the same things ... being perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (1Cor.1:10), is like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (Phil.2:2). Consequently, the Spirit teaches us that believing and confessing the same thing is the remedy to division (1Cor.1:10) Speaking the same thing in one mind and judgment unites believers in the bonds of love and peace into one church. Unity: How? How does this principle of finding unity in the truth work itself out in our lives? Well, if it is the duty of the church to confess, teach and practice only the truth of God’s Word, nothing else (2Tim.4:1-5); and if it is also the duty of every saint who is born again of the incorruptible word of God (1Peter 1:23) to hear, believe, confess and live nothing but the truth (1Peter 1:22-2:5, 2Peter 2:1-3, Deu.13). Then, it follows that every believer is duty bound to join - unite - with the church which most purely and faithfully upholds the true confession and practice of God’s word (Acts 2:47). As this principle of unity works in our life and fellowship it unites us with like minded believers into one body/church, as churches it unites us with other churches of like mind in our region, state and nation. It also enables us to actively seek out others with whom we have, or can establish unity in the truth. Unity In Truth Through The Spirit. The church must find its present unity is in its historic confession. We need to be reminded that our contemporary church may not separate itself from the confession of the church in history. To make such a separation would not only be very foolish, but it would be a rejection of the glorious working of the Spirit of Christ in His church. To do that would deeply grieve (Eph.4:30) and quench (2Thes.19) the Spirit of truth (John 17:17). Why? Because Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the church, promised to give His Spirit to the church to lead it into all truth (John 14:26; 16:12-15). There are three things to see concerning that promise and its realisation.
Unity In Confession Throughout History. Allow me to demonstrate from the history of the Christian church how the church’s unity was maintained in its Spirit filled confession, and in such a way that the church was caused to develop in its understanding and in its confession. Already, during His ministry, Christ required His disciples to confess their faith over against what men were saying about Him (Matt.16:15). When Peter made his glorious confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus declared that flesh and blood had not revealed it ... but my Father which is in heaven.(Matt.16:17). We do well to note that the Father still teaches every believer this confession through the word and Spirit (John 17:17; 15:26, 6:44, 65, Romans 10). For this reason the church must require a credible profession of faith from all its members. Jesus went on to explain that the upon the rock of the true Spirit taught confession He would build and defend His church against the gates of hell (Matt.16:15f). From that point on Peter’s confession, which included the whole Christian faith, has been unfolded and developed by the Spirit in the history of the Christian church. Now come on a quick dash through church history and see how through conflict and confession, the Spirit actually led the church into all truth. In the time of the apostles we see the church meeting in Jerusalem to confess justification by faith alone apart from the works of the law - over against faith + works (Acts 15, Gal.1:6,7; 2:16); throughout the scattered churches we hear the one confession that Jesus is God actually become flesh - over against Gnosticism (1John 1:1-3, 4:2-3). Then in the post apostolic we hear the church declaring its faith in the Triune God and in the true and complete divinity of Jesus Christ - over against Arianism. Soon after, we hear the confession that Jesus is the eternal Son of God become man, and is therefore God and man in two distinct natures, and one person for ever - over against Apollinarianism and Nestorianism etc. Then the truth was attacked from another direction and we hear the church confessing the total depravity of mankind fallen in sin, and sovereign grace - over against Pelagianism. We are relieved to hear that the church staunchly confessed that the Spirit proceeds from both Father and the Son - even when it meant a massive rift in the church between West and East, which remains still today. Hastening on to the Reformation we see the church, by the power of the Spirit, shake of its chains and reform itself again around the historic confession to confess Christ’s exclusive Headship of the church, Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone and God’s glory alone - over against Rome. At Dort we hear the church confessing the five points of sovereign grace - over against Aminianism. At Westminster we see the church gather up her mature confession in order to unite the church on a national scale. And as we scan the church in our day, we hear it confessing all that has gone before, plus we notice that she is emphasising a literal six day creation - over against theistic evolutionists; a transcendent God - over against the pantheism and naturalism of the new age movement, etc, etc. The further you trace the history of the church’s defence and confession of the truth, the clearer and fuller that confession of the faith becomes. This is Christ’s Spirit at work in the church. The church, throughout the ages, is united by the Spirit in the truth and framed together by God so that it grows into the holy temple in the Lord, built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone (Eph.2:20-22). The same truth taught by the Spirit down through the ages is received by the true church today, and unites it with fellows believers, and with the cloud of witnesses that have gone before, and will follow. Here we find the institutional church’s unity. Conclusion What constitutes the true unity of the church is her reception and teaching of the spirit led confession of the one true church. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia maintains this confession of God’s truth in the world through the Westminster Confession of Faith. We believe that it is our solemn calling to endeavour to manifest the unity of the one church of Christ in the world. We seek a unity that will enable us, together with others to "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil.1:27; Jude 1:3). http://www.epc.org.au/literature/unity.html (The following is a) Reprint of the Nov/Dec 1991 Bethel Ministries Newsletter Unity and Conformity: Why Only the Cults Seem to Achieve It by Randall Watters What do Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, The Way International, the Boston Church of Christ and the Moonies all have in common? What do these organizations offer new converts that even the best of the churches cannot offer? Furthermore, what makes it so hard to leave these organizations and to start going to a Christian Church? The key is UNITY. No, I am not talking about the type of unity spoken of by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10: "Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and the same judgment." This passage is often used by the cults to prove to others that they are the one true Christian congregation. New disciples are shown certain "unique" marks of unity among the organization that supposedly demonstrate that God is supernaturally blessing their particular organization. The new disciple is unaware, of course, that many other religious organizations (i.e., the cults) use the same identical argument to prove their organization is the only true church. Cults do have a form of unity not obtainable in the churches, but the question is, how is this unity achieved, and is it desirable? Also, is it the same type of unity that Paul speaks of? I am amazed when I hear pastors and Christians in leadership position complement the cults on their unity and ability to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. Many pastors have even embarked on programs to achieve similar results in their own churches. But the truth of the matter is, using the same techniques as the cults will eventually produce many of the same effects on the members of mainstream churches as do the cults on their disciples. What Paul Is Really Saying There is no evidence that the Corinthians Paul was speaking to in 1 Cor. 10 ever achieved a complete unity of beliefs and personal viewpoints regarding God and their fellow brothers and sisters. Neither was Paul trying to make them all think exactly alike, as some suppose. In order to do so, Paul would have had to develop a systematic theology for the churches, as well as a code of behavior. Instead, all we find are his letters which admonish unity on the basis of love and putting up with one another much more so than complete doctrinal conformity. He identified the Corinthian problem as spiritual immaturity, being men-pleasers and idolaters, rather than as a doctrinal problem (1 Cor. 3:19). From a study of Christians in the first three centuries, it becomes obvious that they held various views on minor matters, and their views on the relationship of Christ to the Father as well as the Holy Spirit were in an infancy stage (Though they unanimously saw Jesus as God and the Spirit as a personality). If one considers the seven churches of Asia Minor (addressed by Jesus in Revelation chapters 13) as representative of Christianity at the close of the first century, then the churches were indeed in various stages of succumbing to immorality, favoritism, false doctrines and worldliness, according to their respective culture. The truth of the matter was that Paul had to continually admonish the churches he fathered, much like a parent has to watch over his children, but he did not establish rules, dress codes, etc. Human nature does not change, and the churches 2000 years later face much the same issues as the seven Asian churches. There will always be strife, immortality, false doctrine, etc. in the midst of the body. This is precisely what the cults seek to change by starting their own organizations and separating themselves. Noble Beginnings, Sad Endings Most Bible-based cults have their origin in an idealistic leader who sees himself as God's chosen spokesman to bring unity and true worship back into Christianity. The pattern followed by such modern messiahs is quite predictable, generally following this course: 1) Disillusionment with the state of the churches. 2) Receives a "revelation from God" as to how to revitalize true worship in the earth, so that God will once again accept his people and begin to work among the "true" believers. 3) Forms a small group of loyal adherents who are submissive enough to accept his vision, and these become the leaders of the movement. They are invested with power and an elitist mentality, fueling improper motives and an inflated sense of importance as to their mission to the world. 4) New revelations and interpretations of scripture are advanced as part of the "program" that God is instituting among the faithful remnant of believers on the earth. These writings/teachings virtually become scripture themselves, though perhaps not identified as such in order to keep a "humble" profile towards the outside world of skeptics and unbelievers. However, to the "chosen ones" in the organization, they are LAW. 5) Mandatory evangelism is instituted as a sign of being "faithful" to God. New believers are usually recruited through questionable motives (appealing to their desire for a new world, more power and authority over others, or to simply alleviate their insecurities, rather than appealing to the cross of Christ... 1 Cor. 1:17,18) Interestingly, in any cult that fosters strange doctrines that are generally considered unacceptable to the public (i.e., no blood, no medical treatment, setting dates for the end of the world, etc.), a constant stream of new converts is necessary in order to continually reaffirm the truthfulness of their doctrine and practices (see the Bethel Ministries Newsletter, "When Prophecies Fail," May/June 1990). 6) The leader now interprets all opposition to his teachings and practices as "persecution," and effectively vetoes any valid criticism of himself or his group. His cause is a "righteous" cause, and God is viewed as carrying the banner of spiritual warfare against all opposition. This is the stage in which the ego of the cult leader is in full bloom and egotistic tendencies are readily observable. Lifton's eight points of minds control (see insert on p. 8) now become manifest, such as the special language developed by the group, the use of confession or purging, control over the environment and flow of information, etc. Dissenters are now deemed unworthy of existence and shunned or even physically mistreated. Cultic Unity Unity is relatively easy to achieve in a totalitarian system. An authority is established as absolute and beyond criticism, and any who dissent are labeled as apostates or heretics. Since dissenters are immediately cast out, the organization will always only consist of those who verbally assent to the doctrines; thus, the cult appears to be in total unity! Yet it is a forced unity, since to question or criticize or voice one's own opinion is to "fight against God." Cults achieve this unity through:
The Watchtower Claim to Unity Under the heading, "Do You Appreciate Jehovah's Earthly Organization?" The Watchtower of November 1, 1991 makes the following statements: "Fitly United in the Same Mind" One outstanding feature of a diamond is its close-knit, strongly bonded atomic structure. Similarly, Jehovah's earthly organization manifests an unmatched unity in doctrine and brotherhood... Clearly, those who desire to serve God can only turn to the one organization that enjoys Jehovah's spirit and blessing. (p. 30, 31) Witnesses are often fond of telling people that they all believe the same thing all over the world, and that their assemblies are models of good behavior. What they won't say is that if anyone WAS to question the Watchtower publicly, they would be thrown out immediately! Hardly a desirable unity. Good behavior is extracted through fear and intimidation as well. Is it any wonder that JWs are well-behaved and that they are all clones of their leaders? Note the following comments and research taken from A Concise Dictionary of Cults and Religions: What [Jehovah's Witnesses] define as unity is actually, in effect, a rigid organizational structure and policy. Unity, as the Bible teaches it, is a oneness of spirit and humility under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:15-16; 14:19; 15:5-7; 1 Peter 3:8) The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has had many splinter groups over the years, Some of these groups are: Bible Student's Fellowship (San Diego, CA) Bible Way Publications (Fort Lauderdale, FL) B. S. C. (British) Chicago Bible Students (PO Box 6016, Chicago, IL 60680) Christian Millennial Fellowship (Hanford, CT) Christian Renewal Ministry (Saratoga, CA) Church of God, Faith of Abraham (Wenatchee, WA) Dawn Bible Students Assn. (East Rutherford, NJ) Eagle Society (Address Unknown) Haviland Davis (Albany, NY) Hirsho-Kittenger Movement (Now Defunct) Layman's Home Missionary Movement (Chester Springs, PA) Olson Movement (Now Defunct) Pastoral Bible Institute of Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY) Ritchie Movement (Now Defunct, Led by A. I. Ritchie, WTBTS vice-president) Standfast Movement (Portland, OR & Seattle, WA) Sturgeon Movement (Now Defunct) In addition, several of the above groups have splinter groups of their own. For example, the Chicago Bible Students has the following branches and splinter groups around the country: Fort Worth Bible Students (Fort Worth, TX) Phoenixville Bible Students (Kimberton, PA) Portland Bible Students (PO Box 23232, Tigard, OR 97223) Seattle Bible Students Church (PO Box 334, Bellevue, WA 98009) Warren Bible Students (Address Unknown) As is by now obvious, the Watchtower is not as "pure" from an organizational perspective as they would like you to believe. The primary cause of the splits has been the strong authoritarian stance of the leadership and their failure to consider views or interpretations of scripture other than their own (most of the splinter groups formed after changes in doctrine or policy). This is the situation to this day. (Source: A Concise Dictionary of Cults and Religions, Published by Moody Bible Institute, 1991) In Conclusion The issue of whether unity is always a good thing should be directly addressed when talking to a Witness. It is not necessary to apologize for the state of the churches, as their schisms and differences were apparent even in Bible times. Rather, focus on WT claims regarding unity. It is not your job to apologize for the churches, as they do not individually make the claim to be the only true church. This approach will also provide a good opportunity to point out the marks of mind control, and how absolute unity and conformity are not as desirable as supposed. |
