29 March, 2024

UNITY: When Our ‘It’ Is Misplaced

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by | 17 May, 2020 | 1 comment

By Nate Ross

In the quarter mile before I arrive at our church’s campus, I pass a Nazarene church, a United Methodist church, a church of Christ (noninstrumental), and then turn into our campus about 500 yards later.

Competition, co-laborers in Christ, or critic are the three most common thoughts that come from my heart when I see another church. (I know, that’s really mature for a pastor.) The lens in which I see another church leads to how I love another church. It’s quite easy to quickly judge and criticize neighboring churches that have different biblical interpretations from ours rather than pray for their success and growth. Last time I checked, not everyone in our region is following Jesus yet, so we have some more work to do.

I have a sense this practice of being in competition or a critic is common among pastors, especially when it comes to some core doctrinal beliefs held in the Restoration Movement. It’s impossible to have a movement of restoration when we’re not willing to take a step toward each other.

Within the Restoration Movement, there are differing opinions on several theological issues—music, women in leadership, spiritual gifts, end times interpretations, etc. These issues and our views on them can easily become our focus—our “IT”—if we’re not careful. And every pastor, it seems, can make the Bible support whatever point they want to make. I’ve found we will inevitably disagree on some issues in our movement, but how we disagree might matter more than why we disagree.

I came across this interesting quote that speaks to the history of our movement and the realities we face pursuing unity in the midst of disagreement. In The Origins of the Restoration Movement, Richard M. Tristano wrote, “Barton Warren Stone’s greatest contribution to the Restoration Movement was his recognition that stress on doctrinal differences was the greatest cause of Christian disunity.”

So how do we move forward in unity if we know we’re always going to have disagreements?

Love Jesus More than the Restoration Movement

Let’s be great students of God’s Word, have theological positions, be able to defend them, and teach others. Let’s also make being known for the love of God in our lives our greatest goal, rather than being best known for our views. The apostle Paul was calling the church in Ephesus to this way of living when he wrote,

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:1-6).

Unity Begins with Listening

At the most intense time of his life, Paul reminded the church to live a life worthy of the calling they had received. He told the church not just to have good theology but to live obediently, remaining committed to loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and making disciples who make disciples.

My dad has set a good example during his two decades here at Northside Christian Church. Beyond loving our congregation, he gathers area pastors quarterly to share a meal, encourage, and listen to what’s going on in their world. Being a large church like ours can create a negative reputation unless you’re willing to encourage others by listening first. I don’t know if it’s specific to the conferences I’ve attended, but it sometimes seems like the least encouraging pastors can be senior pastors . . . and I’m a senior pastor! When we listen first, we get beyond the “numbers game” and are humble, gentle, kind, patient, and bearing with one another in love. (Does that sound familiar?)

Unity Takes the First Step

Unity occurs about as naturally as a 2-year-old who shares. This is why Paul said we need to make a great effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through peace. I’m called to love others first and to celebrate the good that God is doing in them, rather than waiting for them to start where I’m at theologically or even philosophically.

Our church is located in a town that is over 80 percent white. I love our church and our region, and I’m excited about where God is leading us, but I realized I was missing something. I needed a perspective on diversity if our church was going to reach our city and embody the call of being a church that is hungry for all nations and races to know Jesus.

Instead of doing nothing to learn about racial history in the church and nation, and about present concerns, I invited people from a variety of ages and races to help inform me about diversity. We’ve met five times now and the gatherings have been exactly what I needed. We’re experiencing a deeper level of unity built around trust, vulnerability, and a willingness to listen to each other. I’ve also learned that everyone in the group comes from a different denominational background than the Restoration Movement.

Instead of waiting for others to “come around,” we need to be the ones who “make every effort” to engage others and celebrate the good that God is bringing in his churches, all the while realizing we’re not going to agree on everything. This happens when we first are unified with our God and Father who is over all, through all, and in all Christians. Unity is who God is (three in One), what God is for, and what he brings through the power of the Holy Spirit.

He is the “IT” we are looking for.

Nate Ross serves as lead pastor at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana.

Nate Ross

Nate Ross serves as lead pastor at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana.

1 Comment

  1. Larry E Whittington

    You are almost there.

    What I have suggested in my private thoughts and writings are for the lead preachers assemble with other “unlike assemblies” and attend both the regular services but also the Bible studies. In the Bible studies, humbly enter into the discussion without trying “win an argument” but gain an audience of those present willing to listen to an outsider. Our reputation does not follow us, but it precedes us. A person’s manners in such a situation as this (humility with love) can be more effective in breaking down barriers – their barriers and ours.

    To accomplish this, I say that this is the time to use “teaching elders” to take the role of the “preacher.” In such a situation as this, I say that the lead preacher is on “local mission work” – the church down the street or across town.

    He can return “home” from time to time to bring news of his adventures with the members of this new group of people he is getting acquainted with. It seemed that Paul always started his work with those who were acquainted with some “god” like the Jewish community or among people who even worshipped “an unknown god.”

    If we are wise enough and know enough Bible to go to a foreign mission trip, shouldn’t our “lead preacher” be equipped to assemble with and humbly study the Bible with those who speak the same language and maybe even be neighbors to the same?

    Just my thoughts. (Oh, no I am not a preacher.)

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