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Unity in the Lord’s Work

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 9, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 15.

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Unity in the Lord’s Work

By A. T. Robinson

A. T. ROBINSON
The God of the Bible is a God of order. Order is one of the highest laws of the universe. There may be perfect order where there is diversity, but order without unity is an impossibility.
Nature presents to us an object-lesson of order, in unity and diversity. We are told that God never made two leaves on a tree nor two blades of grass in the field exactly alike. Here we behold infinite variety and diversity, but a divine harmony and unity pervading the entire vegetable kingdom. “Can a fig-tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs?”—No, the divine law of harmony would thus be destroyed.
“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,” this divine harmony reigned in the hearts of all the beings that God had created. He never made two beings exactly alike, but it was his purpose that to all eternity there should be perfect unity and harmony among all created intelligences. Through sin this harmony has been broken. Satan, the author of sin, is the author of confusion, strife, and disorder.
God made man in his own image and likeness. Satan sought to destroy the handiwork of the Creator by implanting his own image in the human heart. The divine purpose in the plan of redemption is the restoration of the image of God in the soul. We are told that this is the divine plan in Christian education. Since this plan is to bring man back into a state of unity and harmony, without destroying his individuality, is it not perfectly reasonable to suppose that there would be unity with diversity in the different parts of God’s work in this world? Let us see if we do not find this principle clearly taught in the Bible:—
Has God bestowed different gifts upon his church?
“Now there are diversities of gifts.” 1 Cor. 12:4.
What controls in the exercise of these different gifts?
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” Ibid.
Are there different departments of the Lord’s work?
“And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord.” 1 Cor. 12:5.
Are there different plans and methods in the carrying forward of these different departments?
“And there are diversities of workings.” 1 Cor. 12:6.
Through how many of these different plans does God work?
“But the same God, who worketh all things in all.” Ibid.
To how many of God’s workers and for what purpose is the Spirit given?
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal.” 1 Cor. 12:7. (Please read verses 8-10 for an illustration.)
How many of these different workers are used by the Holy Spirit?
“But all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.” 1 Cor. 12:11.
What is the church declared to be? “For his body’s sake, which is the church.” Col. 1:24.
Who is the head of the church?
“But speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ.” Eph. 4:15.
How is the Lord’s ideal of unity in the church illustrated?
“From whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.” Eph. 4:16.
What constitutes the main body?
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. . . . For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Cor. 12:12, 14.
How important a place does the most humble member of the church occupy?
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.” 1 Cor. 12:27.
Who assigns to each member in the church the particular place he has to fill?
“But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.” 1 Cor. 12:18.
When one worker in the church aspires to the position of a fellow worker, how is his course illustrated?
“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. Andif the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.” 1 Cor. 12:15, 16.
What is an inspired assurance that each one will find his proper place?
“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Prov. 18:16.
What alone can bring the church into a state of true fellowship?
“For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:13.
NOTE.—The writer some time ago occupied a seat in the train with a Methodist minister. During a friendly conversation, the minister inquired from what denomination the converts to the Seventh-day Adventist faith largely come. On being informed that they come from all denominations, as well as those not belonging to any church, he remarked, “I can see how you people would be united on one point, that is the Sabbath, but you must be an immensely divided people on other points of faith.” We know by experience that those who are baptized into the spirit of the third angel’s message are brought into the unity of the faith on all fundamental points of doctrine as well as of practise.
To what position are we called as workers in the cause of God?
“No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.” 2 Tim. 2:4.
Does this suggest the idea that each one will work independently, without reference to plans of organization?
As soldiers are we called to have an easy time?
“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Tim. 2:3.
What must a body of soldiers have as an assurance of success?—Leaders.
What kind of leaders are now bidding for a following?
“For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isa. 9:16.
Of what did the children of Issachar have understanding?
“And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” 1 Chron. 12:32.
Has God a people in the world now who have understanding of the times?
“And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.” Rom. 13:11.
What did an understanding of the times enable the children of Issachar to know?
“To know what Israel ought to do.” 1 Chron. 12:32.
Does an understanding of the times now enable God’s people to know what to do in this time?
“The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12.
How many heads, or leaders, did the children of Issachar have?
“The heads of them were two hundred.” 1 Chron. 12:32.
How many followed their lead?
“And all their brethren were at their commandment.” Ibid.
What are two special causes for thanksgiving in the church?
“For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, for that the people offered themselves willingly, bless ye Jehovah.” Judges 5:2.
What is greatly needed in the church now?—Wise, courageous, energetic leadership.
How does the Lord regard the faithful leaders who give themselves willingly to the work?
“My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people: bless ye Jehovah.” Judges 5:9.
What characterized the men of war who came to Hebron to make David king?
“All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel.” 1 Chron. 12:38.
What will hinder the soldiers in the Lord’s army thus keeping rank?
“Such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.” 1 Chron. 12:33.
Did David recognize the principle that the leaders of different rank should counsel together?
“And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.” 1 Chron. 13:1.
Of what time is it promised that the Lord’s people shall offer themselves willingly?
“Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array.” Ps. 110:3. “Most willing will be thy people in the day of thy power.”
—Spurrel’s translation.
Hastings, Neb.