Christian Unity Ministries

Unity News

May, 2003

WATCHING THE SIGN-POSTS

By Blake Coffee

On the road to unity in your church, there are signs that there may be:

Danger Ahead

• GOSSIP – When church members are talking about one another at times when they should be talking to one another; or, when there is more than one side to an issue, and the only communication is among people who agree with each other (rather than communication across the lines of disagreement), this is not Biblical unity. Gossip happens whenever we find ourselves in a conversation aboiut a brother or sister who is not here, and that brother or sister is not being edified in that conversation. Eph. 4:29

• UNDERGROUND CONFLICT – Conflict becomes significantly more dangerous once it goes "underground"--i.e., when concerns are no longer being expressed through the normal channels of communication. Parking lot meetings are the committee meetings after the committee meetings, when we say the things we were thinking in the meeting but knew it would be wrong to say them there. Eph. 4:25

• LEGALISM – Grace is that part of God (and that part of Christ in us) which chooses forgiveness rather than justice. Certainly, rules are necessary—God’s law has not changed—but when we have an unhealthy focus on punishment and consequences , we border on legalism. Eph. 4:32

• WORLDLINESS – When our conduct, systems, and patterns of communication look an awful lot like the world around us and when our decisions are governed more by our Constitution, By-laws, Roberts Rules of Order or our finances than by God’s Word, we stop being a light to a dark world and begin walking in darkness ourselves. Rm. 12:2

• MISSING MEMBERS – Discerning God’s will as a body with half our people missing is like putting together a puzzle with only half the pieces. When we become jaded to that problem, we stop caring about what God is really doing among us. Similarly, when we are not anxious to meet and know the newest church members, we are not anxious to know the new thing God is doing among us. I Cor. 12:18

• LACK OF CORPORATE PRAYER – A regular vibrant prayer meeting involving the total membership is a sign of Biblical unity. When we lack a commitment to that, we lack an understanding of who Christ is, and our unity suffers. Acts 1:14

• FIGHT / FLIGHT RESPONSES TO CONFLICT – When conflict comes, our children watch us respond and learn from us. When you take your children and leave the conflict, you have taught them how to respond when they have their first conflict as an adult—whether at work, at church, or in their home. Eph. 4:15

• ZERO GROWTH IN SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY – If our growth is only in worship, and not in small groups gathered together around God’s Word, we’re not growing disciples—we’re growing consumers. Newsflash: there is no unity among consumers. Js. 5:13-16; Heb. 10:24-25

• CHRONIC ANGER / BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS – Where broken or damaged relationships are allowed to linger, or where chronic anger or a root of bitterness is tolerated, misunderstanding and chaos are not far behind. Eph. 4:26

• FREQUENT LEADERSHIP CHANGES – We should ask ourselves, if our pastor search process runs like a well-maintained machine, is that such a good thing? If pastors are changing in our church with each turn of the calendar page, isn't there a time when we should start examining our own hearts for a deeper spiritual problem? Psalm 139:23-24

Read these sign-posts and rejoice! Be glad for the plumb line of God’s Word. Be thankful for His perfect plan to use an imperfect church to touch this world. And just think how these sign-posts can help you find new and exciting ways to glorify God where you serve. Again I say, REJOICE!

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