Book 2 of Musings Already One
All people who live in continual interaction with the Lord Jesus are one already, regardless of doctrine All that is needed to perfect their oneness in the Father and the Son is the Glory that will be sent from Heaven in the last days.
I think most Christian institutions recognize that the Bible does not really endorse a number of competing groups that term themselves Christian. Yet, we don't quite know what to do about it.
Sometimes there is an effort to combine two or more organizations. The advantages are proclaimed. Perhaps it may be mentioned that there will be less confusion on the part of the unchurched, or on the part of the members of organizations that are similar and could come together without too much controversy. Certainly there would be more efficient administration.
Of course, some compromises have to be made. And then there is the question of who will be the main leader and who will be the most important subordinates.
I have heard of the effort to bring Catholics and Protestants together. It seems to me that a true Protestant can never regard the Pope as "Father," or kiss his ring, or acknowledge that he is in an apostolic line from the Apostle Peter.
Perhaps the greatest stumbling block would be the veneration of the mother of Jesus. How could any Protestant agree that Mary was immaculately conceived or that Jesus did not have brothers and sisters, as the New Testament reports?
It seems to me that a Catholic without the veneration of Mary would not be a Catholic; while a Protestant with the veneration of Mary would no longer be a Protestant.
Compromise is often helpful in solving problems of adjustment; but there are situations that do not admit to compromise, no matter what diplomats may believe.
I was in a meeting once where the leader was exhorting us to present a united front in a certain situation. Before the meeting was over there were irreconcilable doctrinal differences-and this among a handful of believers!
The Apostle Paul tells us that the gifts and ministries given by the ascended Christ will labor until we all come to the unity of the faith. How can this be?
The solution is not difficult at all. Whenever two people are in the rest of God, living in continual interaction with the Lord Jesus, they automatically are one.
Do they all believe the same thing? Not necessarily. What we believe in our brain is not nearly as important as we may have been led to believe.
Suppose I believe the Father is greater than Jesus and you believe Jesus is equal to the Father, according to the doctrine of the Trinity. Can we be one and still maintain our beliefs? Of course! Why not! If I am living in continual interaction with the Lord Jesus, and you are living in continual interaction with the Lord Jesus, then we finally will come to a correct understanding of the Godhead. So why should we waste time arguing? Is not our arguing over points of doctrine proof that we still are living in the sinful nature?
Our problem is, we do not know what unity is. We do not know what true unity is because we do not understand the difference between religion and interaction with Jesus. We may think that our salvation consists of what we believe in our brain. It certainly does not. Our salvation is our continual interaction with the living Jesus. All of us are mistaken in one or more points of doctrine whether we realize it or not. A correct mental grasp of theology is simply not that important. All that truly matters is our relationship with Jesus.
When you read the Gospel accounts you may notice that the Lord never took issue with people concerning their doctrine, only with their behavior.
The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews, the "faith" chapter, does not discuss doctrine but behavior.
The truth sets us free as it changes our behavior. Belief in the statement of faith of a denomination does not set anyone free. It serves only to set the denomination against others that do not have the same statement of faith.
Every individual in Heaven and upon the earth who lives in continual interaction with the Lord Jesus is one. Each such person is one in the Father and the Son and with one another. It already is true.
At the time of the closing of the Church Age the Lord Jesus will pour out unprecedented Glory on the believers who already are one in their hearts. This astonishing visitation will reveal to themselves and to others that they now are one in the Divine Godhead; that Christ has given them of His own Glory; that the Father loves them as He loves Jesus Christ.
Then the nations will come running to the Light of God that is resting on the saints-and this during the greatest spiritual darkness of all history.
Great and glorious days are ahead of us. Let us focus our attention on learning to live in total interaction with Jesus. Then we will be one with all other believers who also are living in total interaction with the Lord.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22-23)
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)