The Unity of Christ’s Church

by Christopher Hendrix

I’m currently reading the book entitled Shepherds For Sale by Megan Basham. This book unveils how some top-name evangelical leaders quickly caved into teaching beliefs countering the Word of God. Leftist secular organizations offered them some money and a reputation, which these evangelical leaders accepted and conformed their teachers to a worldly standard. These leaders led many Christians into error. Those who did not follow were then bashed and trashed by these leaders who spoke ill and in a derogatory manner. These leaders range from the Southern Baptist Convention to the Presbyterian Church in America to prominent ‘Christian’ publications such as Christianity Today. This book warns us not to be deceived by leaders and others who follow in their footsteps.

You can watch the full sermon on 2 Cor 7:13-16 here to accompany this blog post.

One of the recurring themes in the book includes these shepherds shouting the need for unity. They’ve pushed topics such as bowing the knee to the government during COVID, embracing the LGBTQ agenda, buying into the use of Critical Race Theory, and many other politically left agendas. They’ve claimed that the church must unite and not be fractured through these issues. However, their definition of unity involves every church member under their care agreeing with them and following them blindly into the fray. They’ve traded a biblical unity for one by a different standard. They’ve abandoned their God-given roles of leading people to behold Christ, and they’ve led people to behold Caesar.

However, we see a completely different picture of unity in 2 Corinthians 7:13–16. In this text, Paul writes with comfort and joy because of the Corinthians' response to his last letter. In his last letter, he addressed sins and evils that were taking place among them. Some of these included allowing false teachers to come in and preach against Paul and the Gospel he brought. They attacked Paul’s abilities and sought to undermine him as an Apostle. Some of the Corinthians participated in this and allowed these actions to happen. Paul found out about these things and experienced deep hurt from them. But that did not stop Paul from lovingly rebuking them and calling them to repent. This is not because Paul sought to defend his reputation or even to get back at the teachers for spreading the hate, but because he wanted the Corinthians to recognize their identity in Christ and live accordingly. He wanted them to behold Christ instead of beholding culture.

Despite the pain the Corinthians caused Paul, he found comfort in their repentance. Not only this, but he rejoiced at the reception they gave Paul’s messenger, Titus, who was a trusted associate of Paul. The Corinthians encouraged Titus greatly when he delivered the letter because they responded well. They repented and desired to reconcile with Paul. Titus had to have been anxious on the journey to the church. Questions more than likely formulated in his mind, such as, ‘will they respond well?’ or ‘will they run me out of town?’ Relief overflowed in him as they obeyed Paul’s letter, and his desire for them grew. This was no surprise to Paul, who trusted the Spirit in them would lead them to repentance. He even encouraged Titus in this before he departed for Corinth. So then, the leaders pointed the church to look to the Gospel. Paul and Titus taught them to behold Christ instead of beholding a course of destruction.

This scene of comfort and joy paints a vivid picture of unity. Paul, Titus, and the church at Corinth united when Paul and Titus taught the Gospel to the church. The church, in their sin as defined by the Lord, responded with humility through repentance and reconciliation. This is biblical unity. When teachers adhere to the Scriptures and the hearers respond rightly, unity is achieved. It’s a unity of mind and purpose, all rooted in the Gospel. The Gospel, the Word of Christ, is the foundation of this unity.

Contrary to those leaders who want to stake Christian unity on specific agendas, the church’s unity is the work of Christ that forgives us of our sins and fulfills the righteousness demanded by the law of God. Therefore, we can live lives that conform to the Scriptures and stand together. Our outward unity derives from the inner unity bought by the Gospel. Our actions stem from the Scripture’s authority over our lives. We sit under the umbrella of the Word together as we move forward in the storms surrounding us. Christ unites us because we belong to Him.