The Shalom of Unity

Isn’t it about time we did away with our ‘tribes’?

In my formative years as a young Christian, travelling round, experiencing a variety of Christian expressions, from ultra-charismatic to super-reformed, one thing always puzzled me; how come God always seemed to adapt to the theology of the congregation?

In reformed churches, He was in the Bible readings, in the high churches He was in the sacraments, in the emergent churches He was in the love expressed between folk and in the charismatic churches He was in the never-ending prophecies, tongues and various manifestations. Each expression would emphasise theirs as the only authentic expression and it seem to make a lie out of Paul’s words in Romans 12:5, in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

It was only when I researched such things that the context became clear. It was nothing about God adapting to our needs, it was about man straying from His needs. The reformed churches tended to believe that the spiritual gifts ceased in the 1st Century, hence their reliance solely on the Word. The High churches still held onto the medieval doctrines, infuenced by Aristotle, of external rituals being the key to God’s heart. The emergent churches were sure that the church must change with the times and promoted a one-dimensional ‘God of Love’, as if that was the sumtotal of His character and attributes. And the charismatics emphasised experience over all, allowing emotions often to cloud the proceedings.

It’s all about us!

We have made it all about ourselves and we have brought chaos and division into the equation, chaos and division. The antidote is to work towards the true shalom of unity and it is worth revisiting the frst model of Church. We’ll do this by reading the end of 1 Corinthians 12:

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

This is a fly on the wall of a 1st Century church. What we mustn’t do is to read this and assume that the charismatics are the only ones that have it right. They have the language … but not always the application. We will build on this.

Here it is. All gifts are from the Lord and are for the good of the whole congregation, not the individual. Every believer is open to the possibility of spiritual gifts, whether they are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues or interpretations and it is up to God who gets what. All gifts work together and all who exercise them should be treated with equal respect, although some gifts, such as those of apostles, prophets and teachers, are considered the greater gifts. These, of course, are the gifts that God will allow to fow through us, according to the occasion.

This is the ideal, but humans being humans, things can go wrong, as Paul explains a couple of chapters later, in 1 Corinthians 14.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy … But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church … What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God … Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Has anyone got it right?

It is clear that things were not necessarily done in an orderly way and it is clear, from some of the more extreme charismatic expressions that I have visited, a thorough re-reading of the above verses (including the ones missed out) is in order!

Then we look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This reminds us of the primacy of the Bible, as all Scripture is from God and will equip us for all good work. Again, what we mustn’t do is to read this and assume that the reformers are the only ones that have it right. They have the language … but not always the application. We may have the words, but we don’t always use them well.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Then we have the High Church and their sacraments and rituals and perhaps we feel a little negative towards them, in the light of the Reformation and the accompanying Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (Faith alone), and Sola Gratia (Grace alone). But maybe there are a few babies in the bathwater? Some of the sacraments are a refection of Biblical injunctions:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14)

These all have a place in the Church, but not all of them are consistently practised when people come together. Of course we know that, as with the charismatics and reformers, the High Church people don’t always get it right. They have the language … but not always the application, as we can see from the following passage, entitled when Holy Communion goes wrong (though this can happen in any Church expression):

So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).

Then, finally, we have the emergent church, with its accent on love and peace. There’s certainly a place for love and peace: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Sadly, most churches fall down on this one. It’s the holy grail, so to speak. If we can really get this one right then surely evangelism would be a piece of cake. Who can fail to be attracted to a group of people who have sincere, demonstrated love for each other?

Of course I can’t leave this section without at least some discomfort for the emergent church: … for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me … (Exodus 20:5). God is not just about love and peace, there is far more to Him than the emergents dare to imagine.

All working together?

It is tempting for all of us to defend our own ‘tribe’ and suggest that all other ‘tribes’ are lacking in some way. But the fact is that all the expressions covered above had some measure of the truth, it is just rare to fnd a church that has the lot; a church that functions equally in the Word and the Spirit, that cherishes Biblical ritual and is known for the love that it shows within and without.

So here we have the whole as the greater than its parts. For Church to be in shalom, in completeness, there must be full use of spiritual gifts, alongside reverence for the Word, without neglecting the necessary actions (baptism, confession, communion, anointing with oil) and all wrapped up in a love that shows the world that we are truly God’s people. And, on top of this, to be a place where every member of that congregation is aware of their function in the Body of Christ and is exercising this function. This is the shalom of unity and our fellowships must operate in a way that allows all aspects to function according to the Maker’s instructions.

This is an abridged chapter from Steve’s new book, Shalom, available from all good Christian bookshops or from the website: www.sppublishing.com