How to Be of the Same Mind & Judgment

Maintaining unity in the church body is difficult. Impossible would be more like it, were it not for the fact that God is bigger than our problems. That is why sameness of mind must begin with prayer. We cannot establish and maintain God's standard for consensus on our own. The Lord must grant it and His Spirit must work to bring it about. Consider this oft-overlooked benediction:

"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encourage-ment grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." --Romans 15:5-6

Of first importance, then, we must recognize our dependence upon God in granting us oneness. Through the privilege and responsibility of prayer, we must ask--that it would be given (Lit., "Keep on asking) (Matt. 7:7). James says that we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2b).

Second, we must recognize that the cause of conflict stems from inappropriate desires on the part of one or more parties (James 4:1). Thus, we may pray for oneness, yet do not receive it, because we ask with wrong motives. This may not be apparent at the start, which is why we need to examine ourselves for motives generated by the flesh. Remember that "All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives" (Prov. 16:2).

Third, we must recognize that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Other believers are not the enemy, and ought not be treated as such. Our adversary is the "god" of this world and the "forces of the darkness" inherent therein (Eph 6:11-12; 2 Cor. 4:4). We must therefore with all diligence continue our resolve to be one, tempering our attitudes with a sense of humility and seasoning our responses with gentleness, patience, and tolerance. Paul wrote:

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. --Ephesians. 4:1-3

And again,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind-ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." --Galatians 5:19-26

Finally, we must pursue truth and love within the church body (1 Pet. 1:22). We cannot sustain unity if either are missing. Truth without love causes a church body to wither into legalism (1 Cor. 13:2). Love without truth causes the body to vacillate into liberalism (Eph. 4:14-15). May each of us remain steadfast in our commitment to both.

"Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."--2 John 1:3