Imagine with me for a moment a church business meeting so contentious that it spilled over into the parking lot with two deacons fist-fighting. If you use your imagination for a moment, you might be able to think of a few things that may be worth actually physically fighting over.
What if I told you that the matter at hand was the purchase of a typewriter for the church secretary? Would that surprise you? Surely I must be using my imagination to come up with such a ridiculous scenario. I wish that were the case.
Yes, it is a true story. But it is also a warning and should serve Christians as a sobering reminder of what can go wrong when personal preferences become the priority over biblical unity. There can be times when spirited debate and discussion can and should take place in a church especially when matters of primary doctrine are on the line. In my experience, I have seen very little disagreement over doctrine in the church and a lot of disagreement over things that will perish with time.
In Philippians 2:2–4, Paul pleads with the church to pursue unity. This was not some vague ideal but required effort on the part of the church alongside a great deal of humility. That passage of Scripture calls believers to be like-minded, to have the same love, and be of one spirit and mind. That kind of unity is not born from everyone agreeing on paint colors, music styles, or committee decisions. It comes from Gospel-centered humility which counts others more significant than count ourselves.
In your church, you are probably not having committee meetings or business meetings about typewriters. That technology has been surpassed and many younger people view typewriters as relics of days gone by. However, you may feel strongly about other things: service times, music volume, or even how ministries are organized. Have you stopped and thought about whether or not those are matters worth fighting over? Could it be that we are often guilty of elevating our preferences to a biblical status?
We all know what church fights bring to us. But have you considered what unity brings? Unity brings joy to the whole body and to its leaders. It brings the church into alignment with its Christ appointed mission of telling others the good news of salvation. Therefore, unity must be based on the truth of Scripture. Unity will never be achieved by personal agendas. Unity requires selflessness which can only be achieved by the work of Christ in each of us.
So here’s a challenge for us all. Is there a preference you have mistaken for a principle? Is there someone you need to reconcile with that you are at odds with over a preference? This could result in a season of repentance and a renewed pursuit of Gospel humility for your church. When the church is unified around truth and clothed in humility, we become a powerful witness to a divided world. Let’s strive for that unity by a shared obedience to Christ and love for one another.
Joe Tolin, Kingman Presbyterian Church
