The issue of Church Unity – YEMI OBIDEYI

"And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers; v-12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry; for the edifying of the body of Christ. V-13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, "and the knoweledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Various attempts in time past to foster unity among Church denominations had failed woefully. In most cases, what usually started with an aphoristic drive to unite the churches often fizzled into a faded hope and the desired unity remains elusive.

Dis-unity among the church called by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is an indication of spiritual immaturity. It depicts the state of being susceptible to the wind of doctrines - each of which is a measure of truth taken from the Bible, but not the whole truth (Christ Himself). 

In a nutshell, the Scripture contains books written across generations of mankind and as such it is a witness of the evolution and progression of God's dealings with man. It also predicts God's ultimate desire, plan and purpose of His creation. It is clear in the Bible that God relates with His people from the point of a new - born through adolescence to maturity. Consequently, there are things permitted for a toddler or beginners of the journey with God but not allowed at full age, adulthood or advanced stage or nearness to the land of promise.

For example, at their take-off, God led Israelites on their way to Canaan with the pillars of Cloud and Fire in the day and night respectively (Exodus 13:21). At a point in the journey, God said “you have dwelt for too long on this mountain". This simply means that the (physical) directional pillars had been removed and replaced with the leading of the Spirit of God which the people were expected to be tuned to. One denomination takes a part of the truth or what holds (held) sway at a point and builds (built) a doctrine around it to differentiate it from others.

Without mincing words, unity can be attained only when Christians shift focus from "seeking God for what we can get from Him" to "seeking Him for His own purpose" for creating us. Primarily, the Bible as quoted in Ephesians 4 above hinges unity of the faith on seeking perfection. In other words, any part of the body not seeking or driving (its members) toward the attainment of the fullness of Christ, cannot in essence, be incorporated into the Vine. Implications of this are weighty, far-reaching and fundamental.

First, the gospel of "meat and drink"- emphasis on outward miracles, money or "bless me, bless me messages", weekly/monthly anointing oil, mantle for miracle, motivational or new age teachings and other fleshly-induced prayer meeting, programmes and activities- must be done away with.

Secondly, the whole truth is Jesus Christ and His personality, not about what He can do to solve your problems or challenges. (Of course, by seeking Him for His own purpose, the seeker's needs are met even as these are not his pursuit).

Perfection of the saint is a collegiate ministry achievable only and wholly by the rulership of the Holy Spirit. Each layer or dimension of Christ cannot be inculcated by fleshly-induced or outer court performances of a pastor, prophet, priest or general overseer, no matter how long he or she may have been in ministry or how much he/she might have been used of God beforehand.

Closely linked to the afore-mentioned is the truth that perfection of believers in Christ or Unity of the body is at variance with the priesthood according to the Order of Aaron but in conformity with the priesthood run on the Order of Melchizedek.  Upon the latter was Christ’s priesthood established and by it, the way to the Holiest was opened having invalidated the former- Order of Aaron. (Hebrew 9:1) In much the same manner, the gospel Jesus Christ preached and bequeathed to His followers was specifically that of the Kingdom of God. All these things laid down by Christ, Our Lord are not only related but essentially complementary. Some distinguishing qualities of this kingdom gospel are direct exposure to true growth in Christ; accurate understanding of the Old Testament, their relationship and spiritual meaning and application in the new; the role of biblical time-lines and seasons in God's purpose for creation.

Most, if not all institutional churches are Aaronic in practice. Again, many denominations are pharisaic, a lot more are organized, run as a proprietorship or husband and wife entity, yet all are ritualistic, predictable and superficial. The Order of Aaron can never make anyone Christ-like because, it is not its nature. It was never designed or conceived to so do. By nature, Aaronic priesthood does not give room for regeneration or a lifestyle above sinful nature (Hebrew 10:1) "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereupon perfect". The priests only performed rituals year in year out. They know ahead what to do, at what time and place. It is far apart from the order dependent on The Holy Spirit, WHO cannot be PREDICTED. Besides, the priest of Melchizedek Order lives by faith and not on tithes, salary or pre-determined collections. His kingdom gospel is practical and lifestyle oriented, it has no room for half-truth, deception, aesthetics or religious traditions or " leaven" as Christ captured it (Matthew 16: 5-6).

For denominational ministries to (truly) unite, would be as "easy" as a horse "could pass through" the eye of a needle. For decades, these churches in Nigeria had congregated under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) but are never one in conduct or direction. Again, the less institutionalized but flamboyant set assembled as Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria over two decades and discovered that they were fragmented than CAN. The two finally entered into a marriage of convenience about five years ago or so, yet nothing seems to be united.

If you do not mind, I think the question should be: Are the members of each branch of a denomination united? Do you see them as one in Christ? So, if the members in a branch are not, how would it be for two branches let alone with other denominations? 

In all, whereas it appears difficult or un-seemingly for denominations to be truly united, the sons of God are one in Him. They live for Christ and so, not tied to denominational barriers. In many cases, these sons of God do clash with organized church system and rituals because they are yielded to the Spirit of God. Christ warned His disciples ahead that religious orders, episcopal system like the Pharisees' would surely drive the disciples out of the synagogue. As it was then, so it has been.