Dearly beloved in the Lord, For your encouragement and edification.  Your servant in the Lord, Neal

                                       BEING OF ONE MIND

   One of the very most difficult tasks for the sons of God is maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Probably this is because of a glaring misconception about the meaning of "unity".  Many religionists view it as conformity of opinion.  One such religious leader boldly asserts that he and his followers are completely united in all of the current issues which Satan has conjured up to rend the precious body of Jesus.  He says that when an issue raises its ugly head they pray over it and the Spirit reveals to him the Lord's position and then the entire congregation concurs.  Shades of Diotrephes!  This is not what the Holy Spirit intends by "unity".  This is cultism.  This is truly the blind leading the blind.

   Unity is a gift from God.  He has seen fit to unite us with Him through His Son, Jesus.  It has to do with a united focus on Jesus and His love.  It has to do with being "in" Him in the same sense that He is "in" God and God "in" Him.  It has to do with having the same love for one another that Jesus and the Father have for each other.  Please read John 17:20-23.  It has to do with an attitude of heart.  Peter, by the Holy Spirit, explains it beautifully in 1st Peter 3:8: "Finally, all of you must be together in your thinking. Try to feel the same thing that others feel.  Love your brothers.  Take pity on people who need help.  Be people who are humble".  It has to do with a new attitude toward sin. 1'st Peter 4:1. 

   When Paul begged Euodia and Syntyche to agree with one another it was "in the Lord".  Their agreement was not to be dependent upon the rules of debate, the rules of hermeneutic, majority rule, in the persuasive ability of eloquent speakers, nor in any way at all the wisdom of the world.  Their agreement was to be "in the Lord", and so should ours be. 

    A sure indicator that men are not "in the Lord" and have not put on the mind of Christ is for them to be continually conjuring up issues over which to disagree and disrupt the peaceful assembling of Saints.  By their fruits they are made evident because out of their mouths proceed the issues of their hearts. Peace makers are not continually conjuring up issues over which to disagree and disrupt assemblies. The Bible says it plainer that I can: Titus 3:9-10. "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about (the) law, because they are unprofitable and useless.  Warn a divisive person once and again then have nothing to do with them". In Proverbs we read: "Only by pride cometh contention; but with the well advised is wisdom"; "A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes" and; "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife".   There is so much of Christ to be shared for those who are focused on Him. 

   How did Paul, by the Holy Spirit, define "being of one mind"?:  "Are you encouraged in Christ?  Are you comforted by His love?  Do you share with the Sprit?  Do you have any tender feelings or compassion for others?  Make me truly happy: I want you to agree among yourselves and to have the same love for one another". Philippians 2:1-2. 

   If we have a need to argue let us argue about the depth of God's love, and with every dispute, witness our arguing turn to praise.   It has all to do with an attitude of heart.  It has nought to do with fraternal conformity. Please give prayerful consideration to these thoughts whether they be true.

Neal has also written Reject One Another To The Shame of Christ along with other articles about Unity at the Living Stones Website:
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/bluffs/4255