One Body
-Embracing True Biblical Unity
by Brett Jacobsen
This article is an excerpt from the authors book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.
Unity – oneness : state of being one or at one : agreement : the arrangement of all the parts to one purpose or effect : harmony. Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 1 Cor 12:12-14
Divided vision
The body of Christ in many countries at this point in history is about as unified as a dismembered skeleton. Instead of working together and taking territory for the Kingdom of Christ, organizations squabble over ground that has already been acquired. The world is hungry for true life and answers which are presented best by a community that is of one heart and one vision. But where is that community to be found?
There are churches all over the place in the west but there is very little eternal fruit being produced, at least according to God's economy. While we all know that a unified army of Christ followers would take the world by storm, it seems almost impossible for that to become reality. There are more than enough true Christians for God to change the entire world with, yet much of the world goes unchanged.
Division in the church comes from our separate organizations with their separate visions. Division is the result of having a divided vision which Christendom is renowned for. Each church puts together its own vision statement, mission statement, business plan and the like in order to be set apart in their own chosen niche market.
While it is true that God has put a diversity of gifts, expressions and passions in the hearts of His people, it is not healthy or biblical to heap people together as a separate group under a separate vision. "Churches" say, 'We are a faith church,' or 'We are a prayer church,' or 'We are a mission's church,' or 'Our focus is on healing,' or 'Ours is on restoration' and many other imbalances. God has put the diversity in the body so we will freely flow together and strengthen each others lack by the Spirit. However, we have settled for something far more inferior. Many saints hide from other aspects of Christianity as they get off on a tangent. I once heard someone say that a good definition for heresy is to over emphasise one area of the Bible over others. Our separate churches excel in this area.
If we are going to work together in unity then it is essential that we regroup under the same vision, the biblical one. It is unquestionable that we are all called to "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" Matt 22:37 and to "Love thy neighbour as thyself" Matt 22:39. In other words, we are all called to have a strong God focus through prayer and worship and to love the world enough to reconcile it to Christ and disciple them and each other to stay there. This one vision will manifest through the whole body in many different expressions and focuses, but will be accomplished by the body that works together in the Spirit
It has become a "your church, my church" fiasco as many different groups do their thing down the road from the other groups who are also about their own business. Although some of these groups work together to a degree, this still hinders real progress as many are at opposition, or at least competition, between themselves. Therefore, the tall poppy wins the battle for status and recognition in the Christian charts.
Naming and claiming
There are many reasons why we want to put a name to the things that we do in the gospel and even the things that God does. Putting names to the things that God has done through us is a product of our carnality (natural nature). It is our natural mindedness that will not allow us to "Let go and let God". In first Corinthians chapter three, Paul refers to the Corinthian church as carnal because of their envying (zelos-jealousy), strife (eris- contention) and divisions (dichostasia- disunion, dissension). He goes on in verse four to explain the root of this carnality to be their being "of Paul or of Apollos" etc. We all want to be a part of something and the reality is, for those who are in Christ Jesus, we are also of Him. Continuing in the context of the chapter we read in verse eleven "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ". The foundation and name for every church (ekklesia-the called out ones) should only be Jesus Christ / Christian. No other name can be at the foundation of what is built by the Lord.
One of the main reasons for our naming "churches" and the like is that we want some recognition for all the work we have done. This is quite reasonable according to natural thinking, however, God's eternal purpose is "To make known His manifold wisdom" not ours. We want the credit but it's God who deserves the credit, seeing that we are only in this deal by grace in the first place. If, like in the early church and in many great moves of God, we don't claim the kudos and name what's happening, then God can do His thing outside of our containment and human limitations.
Jesus spoke into this attitude of being honoured by men:
I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:41-44
The word honour that appears three times in this passage is not the Greek word time (tee-may) of which we are commanded to "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour" 1 Tim 5:17. Time honour is to put value to something, usually with financial remuneration. The word used in this passage of John's gospel is doxa, which is often translated to glory and is a word used for honouring and worshipping God. Notice that Jesus came in the Fathers name, but another that comes promoting his own name or ministry will be readily followed as we are so used to self promotional denominating in the body. He is rebuking the Jews for receiving "honour one of another" instead of seeking "the honour that cometh from God only". There is only one way to receive honour "from God only" and that is to shun and resist human honour (doxa- glory, dignity, praise, worship) by being nameless and underground. While we seek to be honoured by man, we forfeit Gods honour which comes through humble obedience.
Another reason for our naming and claiming is that we don't want other saints to muddy our own reputation. If we are real with ourselves we will admit that the reason we want it clear that we are not part of another group of Christians, hence the dividing names, is because it makes us look bad. If a certain band of Christians, whether it's a church, ministry or anything of the like are in some way bad examples of Jesus, God gets disrespected whether we acknowledge them as brothers or not. I am in no way suggesting that we embrace true heretics and cults, just brothers who don't see everything exactly the same as us. Remember that the only scriptural reason for naming and division, apart from blatant, unrepentant heresy is geographical location. If we do have something that is biblically sound and profitable in our lives or our fellowships then the idea is that we will sharpen our brethren in love, not separate from them.
Chambers Twentieth Century dictionary defines the word denomination as "The act of naming / a collection of individuals called by the same name". So we can see that an "independent church" with a name is actually a denomination. With now over 50 000 denominational clusters worldwide, as some statistics report, is it any wonder that God is restricted from moving through His body in the capacity that He desires to. Wasn't Jesus clear in Mark 3:24-25 when He said "If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand, and if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand"? Yet His church has continued to be what Ezekiel would describe as a valley of Dry Bones.
Part of the reason why God was able to flow powerfully through people like Martin Luther and so bring about great change, was because of their attitude towards this subject. Luther himself said "Let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him whose doctrine we have".
I am well aware that we need to legally register ministries with a company name on paper; however, to publicly name a church by any other name except one that is geographically based is unscriptural and divisive. To promote or parade the name of a ministry is to take the kudos from where it belongs, "The name above all names". It is also a clear reflection of the self sufficient striving that has plagued the modern day church.
Ecumenical compromise
Many Christians and leaders know that we need unity in the church in some way or another. Sadly, because of presumptuousness and a lack of prophetic revelation, the few attempts at moving into such a unified state have been man made and so added to the problem. We say we believe God for a full measure of His presence, a full revival and big results, but we seem only willing to apply half measures to our lives and ministries. Rather than making complete changes that would have caused God's favour to reside in our midst, we have picked and chosen the parts we are comfortable with. The ecumenical man made menace says, "You have your church with your brand name, I'll have mine and we'll come together for some nice fellowship". Of course we will politely put up with one another before we go back to our corners and put on our best performance to win more Christians to our own separate organization.
Perhaps we've forgotten the humanistic political highway to the dark ages. The one that, through good intentions I'm sure, ignored the power and capabilities of the Spirit of God as it pushed for a Catholic or universal church. Because it was a move for unity from man's motives and by man's methods, it led to the church's darkest, most disgraceful hour, which happened to last in excess of one thousand years. What a costly error.
If we are going to see true biblical unity in the modern day church then we must be building on truly New Testament foundations, Christ Jesus alone.
Heaven-like Oneness
Not only is politically correct ecumenical unity man made and therefore limited, it is also a far shot from where Jesus and Father God live and what they have available for us, oneness.
The seventeenth chapter of John's gospel brings out a highly significant conversation that Jesus had with the Father, as pertaining to this oneness.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: John 17:11-12a
Notice that Jesus asked of the Father to "keep through thine own name" Jesus' disciples. We've already looked at the biblical requirement of being "nameless" but here we see that being kept by God's name without a church's, allows us to " be one, as we are". The, "we" that He is referring to is Jesus and His Father, the model relationship for the whole of creation. With the church in mind, think about what level of oneness Jesus and Father have. Jesus just said that if Father can keep us through His own name then we can be one in the same capacity as they are. That's real oneness/unity through relationship and the Spirit.
He went on to enforce His point;
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us : that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:20-23
In this passage He includes everyone that will become a believer, praying that "they all may be one" and then repeating Himself in order to drive the point home. Jesus also says that the fruit of this true oneness amongst every believer is:
• "that the world may believe" (That's salvation for the people of the planet)
• the believers "may be made perfect (teleioo- complete, accomplished) in one"(That's a spotless complete body of Christians)
• "that the world may know that thou hast sent me" (That's real reconciliation for the planet's people)
A large portion of the world does not believe in Jesus at this point in time. The believers are not completed as yet and much of the world does not know that Elohiym the Almighty Creator has sent His savior. Do we realise that this key element of oneness is missing from the body of Christ?
Paul addressed the sometimes schismatic Corinthians, giving them a beautiful picture of the unified Christ;
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized (underground) into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 1 Cor 12:12-14
The "fullness of Christ" can only come through "one body", the unified body of Christ. Although this body consists of many unique individuals, they are all under the same banner, part of the same heavenly organisation.
Dry bones to army
So if we can't organize this thing or base it on half truths and half measures, what is it going to take to see a complete, perfected, world changing body?
Coming into prayerful, prophetic agreement with the supernatural power and purpose of God in this hour is surely our only hope at biblical oneness. Man can't organize it, but God sure can. Ezekiel brought forth a word from God that not only spoke into "the whole house of Israel" in His time, but also set a prophetic precedent for the end time church.
Ezek 37:1-10
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
This valley of dry scattered bones is a good picture of the modern day denominational debacle that many know as church as well as the multitudes of true saints that are outside of denominations.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Our part is to prophesy to the scattered mess and speak the word of the Lord into it, as well as hear what the Spirit is saying to us.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
This coming together of the scattered dry bones is not organized by man, but is a work of the Spirit of God. It is not the denominations all coming together for citywide worship, conferences or anything like it. However, it is a picture of the many Christians that are geographically scattered across the nations, fleeing denominational division and beginning to form one spiritual body under Christ alone. Notice that there was a noise- (qowl- to call aloud) and a shaking- (ra'ash- uproar, commotion). Just like in the reformation of the sixteenth century there will be, and is, a prophetic call that demands repentance along with a commotional, shaking uproar throughout the body to bring about the required change.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
The noise and the shaking have begun and many are out of the old skin of separation. We all know that there are many that have fled the institution of church but have not yet moved into a biblical structure (wineskin). They are also scattered but perhaps ready for the Lord to maneuver them into position. Ezekiel shows us that after the bones come together as one skeletal form, sinew, flesh and skin will cover them. This shows how God will then overlay the newly formed skeleton with organic biblical structure in order to provide a fuller body.
When the saints of the city begin to flow house to house, like in the New Testament, being submitted to one another with overseeing leaders, all these nameless communities will be drawn together in relationship by the Spirit's prompting instead of human organisation. Then we will have one body. It is up to us to obey God and let Him move us into position biblically, being ready to connect with whom the Lord will connect us with. Of course, they will already be connected with other families and communities of believers and so will you. Thus the Spirit will weave His way through cities and nations.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live . 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
The western church has been dreaming of revival for too long and to no avail. Apart from the fact that most western Christians have a warped version of revival in their sights, we also have not been willing to allow the heart and structural changes that are prerequisite to His life giving breath. It is only when the bones are all together and the flesh and skin are overlaid that God is going to breathe into the body bringing His reviving presence, causing the "exceeding great army" to take the world by storm. It will be the true underground body of Christ that is revived and sent not the "looks the part" one.
The heavenly architecture
Although we are all personally "the temple of the Holy Spirit" and "and ye are not your own" 1 Cor 6:19, there is a much bigger picture concerning God's earthly abode. Paul in Ephesians talks about God's temple which exists outside of human architecture:
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord : Eph 2:20-21
The temple he speaks of is the temple of the body of Christ worldwide rather than the personal temple that we all are. This "holy temple in the Lord" is made up by all the saints or "all the building " being "fitly framed together". As we have seen, this happens by the Spirit not by human organization. He goes on to say:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph 2:22
He said that we are "built together", "through the Spirit", by His organizing and prompting. When we are built together we become the habitation of God, a place for Him to dwell in. Rather than having mans confined buildings as a place to dwell, God chooses to live in His heavenly temple on earth, the spiritually built body of Christ. It is only then that God's presence will cover the earth as His temple lives all over the world, throughout every society that has a community of Jesus' followers amongst it.
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