Unity in the Spirit
By Dave Peterson, Pastor, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
Some have expressed worry that our Fellowship of Presbyterians is fueling division and disunity in the PC(USA). Yet division and disunity have been our way of life for the past 40 years. Those who now cry, “Please stay, it is unfaithful to go,” are expecting us to continue the current insanity of doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. Please understand that we are simply choosing to say, “No more!” to this form of pseudo-unity that simply masks deep divisions.
The existence of the world’s 38,000 denominations suggests that unity is impossibly difficult by human effort. We believe there must be a better way to demonstrate the unity of Spirit. Instead of fueling disunity, the Fellowship is pressing hard in search of a different form of unity.
We do not believe that tolerance produces unity. While there is value in tolerance, history does not offer much promise that tolerance unites people.
We also do not believe that fellowship equals unity. Fellowship broadens perspective but it is not synonymous with unity.
Regulation most certainly does not produce unity. Regulation controls disunity but does not resolve it.
We do believe the Holy Spirit is the author of unity—not the General Assembly, the World or National Council of Churches or the efforts of their councils and committees—only the Holy Spirit of God.
We also believe the role the saints play in unity is like-mindedness—that is, seeking the mind of Christ— to have the same mind in us that is in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). We humbly acknowledge that no individual or group can presume to know the full breadth and length and height and depth (Ephesians 3:18) of Christ’s mind and heart. What we do know is that it is broader, wider, deeper and higher than any one of us can individually comprehend (Romans 11:34-36). And yet we do believe that Christ does make His mind known to us through the scriptures illuminated by His Spirit. These scriptures, embodied in the life of Jesus lead us forward.
The Holy Spirit’s work in unity is more like an art than a science. The Spirit works like the Composer and Artistic Director of the great symphony and chorus we call the Church. In heaven and on earth the saints and angels make music according to His composition and His direction (Revelation 4). To each is given an instrument and a voice.
Unity is possible only as an outgrowth of faithful obedience in rehearsal and performance. Only He knows the fullness of the score. Only He knows how the notes, rhythms and pauses fit together. Faithful obedience requires each individual musician, and each section of the orchestra and chorus, to obey His direction, bringing the part of the score they understand to life—respecting others, and not commanding others to play instruments or parts they do not know, or to sing notes they do not understand (Romans 12:3-7).
The Fellowship is a community of musicians who find themselves in a part of the orchestra where we can no longer play faithfully or effectively. We do not seek to silence the music others feel directed to make. We leave it to the Artistic Director to correct the musicians and conduct the score. We only seek to follow the direction and play the notes we have rehearsed. We believe it is imperative that we play the part of the score the Spirit has directed us to play without compromising integrity. While no one can see the whole of God’s activity, we can see with clarity the parts He has called us to play, and through our association with the Fellowship, we intend to live faithfully as the Spirit enables us.
We believe this in no way compromises the unity of the Body. Instead, it respects the Body’s complexity and contributes to the fullness of the Spirit’s mysterious and glorious work. History will tell whether this is an act of self-deception or of faithfulness to the One.
26 Responses
Dave, I appreciate your thoughts on unity. It is certainly a work of God’s Spirit and not something we can bring about on our own. I resonate with your musical analogy, having spent many years as a musician and music teacher (I do have a little trouble with the idea of a part of the orchestra where you cannot play effectively–each musician can only control his/her own playing. The best musicians are not distracted by those around them who are playing poorly or out of tune).
I am puzzled by your opening paragraph which seems to set this post as a response to those who cry, “Please stay, it is unfaithful to go.” Who has said that? I thought I had read almost everything being written in response to Fellowship postings and I have yet to see anything that even comes close to saying that those who leave are unfaithful. I have read plenty of posts that suggest the opposite–that those who stay are unfaithful. I get it that if you feel passionately one way or the other it is hard to see it from another point of view, but do we really get to judge whether someone else’s decision is obedient or faithful?
I know many people who are positioned to stay. They are positioned to stand firm, knowing that they will be tested and that there will be sacrifices to be made as others go. They know too that there may come a time when to go is the only faithful response and they are watchful and listening for the Shepherd’s voice.
One more thing. Could we put to bed the phrase “continue the current insanity of doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result”? I read in the latter part of the New Testament and especially the Book of Revelation that God puts a very high value on perseverance and those who “endure to the end.” Could we maybe just stop suggesting that to do so is “insane?” That is a cultural definition that does not apply in spiritual matters. Sometimes doing the same thing in the face of repeated failure is EXACTLY what God calls us to do. It doesn’t have to feel good to be right.
We may not be listening to the same voices. Whether by explicit statement or implication the question of faithfulness is at the very center of this conversation–as your own concluding paragraph suggests.
Yes. God help us to be faithful in following Jesus and in washing one another’s feet. I am afraid these uncertain times bring out the prickly in me–I hope you will forgive me for picking apart your message. Thanks for your leadership. I’m looking forward to the August meeting and praying that God will bring grace and unity to our time together.
Thank you for having the courage to say this, and especially for having the courage to lead in this new endeaver. I am looking forward to the Gathering.
Blessings,
Scott
Marie you may be correct that staying or leaving is neither faithful, unfaithful, or a sign of insanity. How would you judge Jesus’s departure from the Temple never to return? Was He faithful or unfaithful to His mission; or, was it a mark of insanity?
As you have also indicated, sometimes doing the same thing in the face of repeated failure is EXACTLY what God calls us to do; and you are correct, it doesn’t feel good.
The point is, however, whether you are a musician in an out-of-tune orchestra or suddenly find yourself in a denomination which has chosen a different path, perserverance does not require you to continue your effort to play in tune or contend for your God-given faith as a member of the orchestra or denomination. Accordingly, staying or leaving is not a question of right or wrong, it is a spiritual matter originating with/from the authority of scripture within our lives.
Where is scripture calling us?
William, you asked, “How would you judge Jesus’s departure from the Temple never to return?” My answer : I would never presume to judge Jesus–He is God and I am not.
Dave, the pro A-10 proponents could have easily written your article.
The Devil could have written the article. It all depends on the Conductor and which orchestra you are in.
Dear Dave,
Thank you again for your leadership and for the clarity and craftsmanship of your metaphor. You and the Fellowship are in my prayers.
Regards,
Jim Baxter
Dave,
Thanks for your essay, and the irenic way you write.
Following your analogy of an orchestra, and looking down the road at the logical consistency inherent in our opponent’s argument (justice deferred is justice denied)– I wonder if the other musicians will allow anyone in their section to play a different tune– i.e. ministry to the sexually broken— I wonder if the future in the PCUSA, will be one of people playing a different tune than the conductor is conducting grabbing the instruments of those who , seek to follow him in their section, silencing them – because they’re not in step with the particular section.
These are the concerns I have re: any call to remain – not that the answer will mean one must leave- but I suspect to be faithful, now, one will need to double one’s efforts not to go along to get along.
Thanks again,
dm
In the next to last paragraph, who makes up the community being illustrated? Is it those in the orthodox/conservative/evangelical community of the PCUSA or… all in the PCUSA?
If it is all in the PCUSA, I would say that two different scores are being worked from and this metaphor falls apart unless you contend that the Composer writes a dissonant and arryhthmic score that is beyond our ability to appreciate and feel apart from divine intervention.
If the orchestra is not all in the PCUSA, are you willing to assert clearly for yourself or on behalf of the Fellowship that moving forward, the Left/liberals/progressives do not fit into the schema of what will happen at the gathering in August?
I hope you’re right because if you are then we should have no difficulty resolving our differences.
If I understand you, Mr. Peterson, this represents precisely my own views on this matter. I kept nodding my head in agreement throughout. I say that the Fellowship is not creating disunity because that assumes such does not already exist. In order to create something, it cannot already exist. True enough. I think you make the claim, at least you suggest, that the Fellowship is not contributing to disunity.
You point out that perfect union is nearly impossible. The evidence is the tens of thousands units within the Body of Christ already. You claim that tolerance does not produce unity. That statement sounds false. Tolerance does presume disunity and disagreement. We don’t tolerate that which we agree with, we affirm it.
I think the strength of your message, if I follow it correctly, is to note that it is God that brings unity and, for that matter, Providentially allows disunity. I believe God has given the PC(USA) a spirit of disunity and discord for a reason. I am not a prophet but, I suspect, one of the reasons for this judgment is our promotion of abortion rights, our indulgence of divorce and remarriage, and our acceptance of a sexual morality that is rights based and not righteousness based. Beyond that, we have become ashamed of the Gospel and, as you point out, theologically syncretistic. (We have also abandoned our Reformed Calvinistic confessions.)
Jesus says that “It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Presbyterians are in the process of descending into a living hell where they participate with others who treat the Scriptures as foolishness. This is being done by attempting to live out some false standard of unity. The only unity we are commanded to maintain is that of the universal body of believers world wide. There are brothers and sisters in the third world suffering and even dieing for their faith. Their faith springs from the God of the Holy Scriptures and completly revealed in Jesus Christ. First to the Apostles and then to those who worship him in Spirit and Truth. With these I maintain unity. Christian fellowship with PCUS members who deny the Holy Scriptures is an Oxy moron. These people are wolves in sheeps clothing and they seek only to devour. Homosexual, Lesbian, Bisexual, Presbyterian Preachers are now coming out of the closet and boasting about their sin as if it were a virtue and not an affront to God. Our Lord must weep. Once again we crucify Christ. When I think of the fallen state of the proponets of 10A my first reaction is to have pity and to pray for them. Unity is not possible with Satan and to compromise with the Devil is to place yourself on a slippery slope that only goes downward. I hope to attend the gathering in Minneapolis and learn for my self what the Fellowship of Presbyterians is all about. Until then I will pray earnestly and continually for all members of PCUS.
This is the most helpful article I have seen from the fellowship because it puts our hope in the Holy Spirit’s work to bring us to God’s purpose and to unity. Wow – it makes me excited to read this – finally someone who is talking about the role of The Holy Spirit…… My question for a long time has been “What is the church, the PC(USA), doing that is impeding the work of the Holy Spirit? ” “What am I doing that might impede that work in my life?” The work and evidence of the Holy Spirit as outlined in Scriprute points to the fact that there is some lacking in this area in the church i.e. lack of unity, lack of power, lack of gifts, lack of spiritual resources, lack of people being drawn to Christ, lack of understanding of Scripture, lack of making God (Jesus Christ, Father, and Holy Spirit) central.
So, Thank you for this encouraging article.
Bring it a step further, until we see our utter helplessness and God’s absolute
ability to work His will to bring about God’s purpose in our midst we will never receive the resources God wants to give us to do His will. That is why we became Christians in the first place. It puts our FAITH in God first, and not in our own abilities to bring revival. That is why those going to the Fellowship need to put aside their “music sheets”, their agenda, and spend more and more time just waiting and seeking God for the power to play His “music sheet”.
I love this quote from Andrew Murray “After all the other parts of the armor had been named, Paul adds: “with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Without PRAYER, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, have no power. All depends on prayer. May God teach us to believe this and to hold fast!”
It sounds counter productive to put aside our need to do things and our agenda and be intentional in “listening” to God for instruction, for the Holy Spirit, for the power that God can initiate, for one mind in knowing God’s purposes. When you see the Holy Spirit work you are excited, faithfilled, energized, bold, able to glorify God because you know it is a God thing and not just our own abilities that are turning things around.
UNITY IN THE SPIRIT – only comes from that kind of submission and humility before God which is born out of prayer and a concert of seeking God. I am praying that many going to the Fellowship will feel that urgency to pray, pray and pray more and more. Pray like your whole ministry depends on this: seeking God.
Thank you again for your encouraging word.
I too am encouraged by this article and I agree with Linda that we need to spend much time in prayer. In the business context in which I work, we often talk about all parties being 100% responsible for any given circumstance, and so we need to be in earnest prayer before the Lord to repent of whatever sins might have played a part in creating this rift in our denomination, and in allowing what I consider a large portion of the church to slip into apostasy. What does the Spirit have to say to us? What is the Spirit trying to teach us in this? Then what is next for us? I find it difficult to envision anything less than a separation from those who would choose to follow the new standards and forms of government. For them to make such radical changes and then cry “unity” seems disingenuous to me, but perhaps that’s just me. Regardless, the Spirit keeps bringing before me texts, sermons and words of encourage that remind me to focus on Christ and Christ alone, and to work out my salvation, to continue to be obedient to the new life he has given me. I believe this is what the Fellowship is about as well, and I look forward to joining with my brothers and sisters during this special and critical time.
Some are critical of Fellowship plans because they feel they are not concrete enough in proposing a hard and fast denominational alternative to the PCUSA. But I wonder if denominations aren’t old wineskins, and I wonder if the Spirit doesn’t want to do more than can be done in and through their visible structures. I also note that most denominations began as movements. And almost all true life-changing and world-changing movements began with small seeds that were laughed at and disregarded not only by much of the world (which demands concrete and steel) but also by worldly ways of thinking–even among God’s people. I pray that God will bless this nascent movement so that in a hundred years, people will see a large oak tree and marvel at the seed from which it grew in the Kingdom of God. A lectionary passage for Sunday is Matthew 13, The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Yeast: 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
I pray that the Fellowship is a mustard seeed and that it is like yeast as God’s Kingdom breaks in on earth as it is already in heaven.
Winfield Casey Jones, First Pres, Pearland, Texas. 7/21/2011
Dave, thanks for your words and I especially like your analogy of the orchestra.
In all the talk about unity I offer this perspective. Are we Presbyterian Christians? If so, then we are schismatics and have been since the 16th century, which is relatively new from the vantage of history of religions. We are ourselves a product of disunity, Luther’s and Calvin’s failed attempts to reform from within the Roman Catholic Church.
I’ve been reading again Calvin’s response to Cardinal Sadoleto because to me it seems this correspondence captures the DNA of our Reformed identity. I greatly encourage people to read it, despite its length. In particular, I’ve been reminded of how crucial the authority of scripture and conformity to it were for the progenitor of our movement. In my most recent meetings among leaders on both sides of our current debate, I hear echoes of Calvin and Sadoleto: Sadoleto inviting Calvin back into the fold if he would but yield on certain points about tradition and the church/culture debate; Calvin emotionally declining on account of the lack of conformity to scripture by leaders in the RCC. Fascinating.
I say all this not to recommend one course of action over another. I simply wanted to share some of my journey into our history of late. The wheel goes round and round.
Regulation often leads to protest and disobedience if it is perceived to be unjust.
Do we all agree that the PCUSA is experiencing a high degree of disunity? I don’t know if we are following different Conductors, or just have different music in front of us, but the outcome is neither pleasant to the ear nor is it fulfilling for the musicians.
My hope is that we can come to some sort of peaceful resolution. Our Denomination isn’t fruitful, and hasn’t been for some time. We are withering. Unfortunately, truthful and honest dialogue hasn’t taken place yet. Perhaps the Fellowship meeting in August will prepare all parties for that opportunity.
Finally, our words must match our actions, if there is to be trust between our factions. Rev. Edward’s refusal to use the language of war must match her actions and those of the PCUSA as they interact with disaffected congregations. Our words, as well, must be in line with our actions. Do we really want reconciliation, or just a Reno divorce?
We’d make a stronger case that the disunity we are experiencing today is the result of a structural defect in Presbyterianism itself, which can only be remedied by abandoning denominationalsim entirely, if only we had actually continued in the Presbyterianism of our founding. As it is, our theology bears little resemblance to Calvin’s. In fact, I would say it is opposed to his. The disuity we are experiencing today can be more readily explained as the fruit of our aimless wandering these past 80 to 100 years rather than a 500-year-old defect in Presbyterian structure. Instead of repenting and returning to the beliefs of our fathers, we would rather blame them for our failures and continue on our misguided path, though with a slightly different trajectory.
Praise God for all the replies and statements that this pOST page has brought to me, for hope, enlightenment, and courage to continue with all that is going on around us, today! Am a babe in computers! Yet, God directed me here, somehow today! I LOVE THIS STATEMENT FROM Pastor Peterson, as it reinforced my long time sharing of God as orchestrating life, with us as the instruments, not knowing where in Scripture it was based! I just knew the H.S. was telling me to see and reveal this to others, as it is to me. Oh, how happy I am this day, to have Rev. 4 and Romans and other backup! You have made my day! So, THANKS, ALL~! Unity in the Spirit…that sounds pretty good! Someone’s comment about the Holy Spirit being pretty much not spoken in my generation rings true for my upbringing! The H.S. was passe I guess, or not what the people felt quite Presbyterian enough! Oh, those white-knuckle Christians I was and still am, or rare occasions of lapse of memory! To know-so, and not just hope or think-so is such a freeing spirit to enjoy, even relish, share and sing about! Just this a.m. saw some in action to fight the enemy, PTL! So…bring on the melodies of life and let us play our section, with God orchestrating! I is ready! JESUS CONTINUES TO RULE AND BE THE ANSWER FOR ALL QUESTIONS, YET! HIS NAME ON EVERY LIP OR CALL FOR HELP SURE IS INDESCRIBABLE! GOD LOVES TO HEAR IT, FOR SURE! AFTER ALL, HIS SON IS WHO SOME THINK AND OTHERS DOUBT, YET WE DANCE TO THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUMMER, FOR A CLANGING NOISE, I GUESS. Boy oh boy.
Dear Dave: I am grateful for the Fellowship and your efforts to lead us through this difficult time. Also, I am grateful that you seem to be reading this thread of conversation and that someone from the Fellowship is listening. The perception that no one is listening to these comments has been a problem in the past. Very briefly, three words I would urge you to hear:
1. What is most needed at this point is a clear declaration that the PC(USA) is guilty of error and apostasy, as in the time of Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church. If we do not make this simple and clear declaration, then it will simply seem to all concerned that his is a family quarrel and disagreement and nothing more than that. To use your imagery, that we are simply interested in playing different kinds of music. A line has been crossed, and there should be a clear declaration that the PC(USA) is not following a diffrent Jesus and preaching a false Gospel. Unfortunately, no such statement has been forthcoming from the Fellowship. In fact, very little has come from the group that I would view as Biblical or theological…it is more pragmatic reasons for leaving – church growth, vitality, frustration, etc.
2. Any course of action that requires us to ask permission from the current regime to leave and reorganize is a non-starter, and would only lend authority and legitimacy to this bankrupt denomination. It’s not an issue of humility, but of refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the PC(USA). You don’t ask the Pope’s permission to launch a Reformation.
3. Based on my conversations with many pastors, we cannot wait for years to pursue some uncertain plan with an uncertain outcome. I would say we have months, not years. If we ask people, “Come back next year for another meeting….” I fear we will lose any unity and momentum that is remaining. Instead, we will fragment and go our different ways. All of my dearest friends are coming to Minneapolis, but unless we are bold and decisive in our course of action, it will be for many of us our “Last Hurrah” as evangelicals in the PC(USA). This is our “Hear I Stand” moment. If we miss it or dither, heaven help us. My prayers are with you and I will see you all in Minneapolis.
Peter Larson has written some clear and important statements that I would like to underscore. Regarding point one: If the gathered fellowship meeting August 25-27 can issue a united statement of confession and exhoration we could honor Christ and His Church. Does anyone know if this is being planned?
Regarding point two: 20+ years ago the United Church of Christ embraced the homosexual lifestyle of its clergy and departed from orthodox Scripture explicitly. The UCC renewal groups proposed forming a non-geographic synod for the evangelical churches and pastors and the newly strengthed Ggeneral Assembly type gathering said No to that while the Hungarian non-geographic synod did not allow the transfer of evangelical churches into their synod. teh effect with congregational polity over the last 20 years almost all conserative churches have left the UCC. Lesson for the gathering is that we can’t rely on the newly empowered liberal churches to grant a non-geographic synod.
Regarding point three: Elders and other lay people have already dropped their membership in their local PCUSA church and will leave the church in a few months if the gathering doesn’t come up with an alterative reformed body.
Marie:
Well you are correct we cannot and are not called to judge Jesus; the question is however, how would you judge His departure….what was that about? Was He still on His mission? Where is He leading us? What caused Him to leave? Should we go or stay?
Hopefully, prayerfully, the August meeting will provide us with some insights and answers as to where we go from here.
William, I’m not sure the answer you are looking for is in this text. The Matthew account has Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers adn driving out those who bought and sould in the entrance (21:12-13). In the next verse he is healing all who came to him “in the temple” and being praised by children “crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!'” That evening he lodged in Bethany and returned to the temple in the morning and taught. His authority was questioned but he patiently answered the questions meant to trick him. Then in 23 he delivers the scathing list of woes to the scribes adn Pharisees, calling them hypocrites, blind guides and in the end of the chapter he wept over Jerusalem. As he left the temple he fortold the destruction of it in Chapter 24. I don’t see a call for us to leave the PC(USA) as a natural conclusion to this passage. The reason Jesus did not return was that he was on his way to the cross and ushering in by his death and resurrection a new dispensation. No longer was the temple needed because those believing in Christ were the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. No longer was a place of sacrifice needed. God now did not dwell in a building but in the hearts of men and women. I don’t think we are in a similar seismic shift because our denomination has made a series of decisions that stray from Biblical teaching. The era of the Church–the people of God being the Body of Christ–is still in effect. What has changed really from God’s perspective? I sometimes think all that is changed is how we feel about being a part of Christ now that we see the reality of who are neighbors are in Christ. They, like us, are sinners. They, like us, need God’s grace. What we discern is that some are unrepentant, gleeful, want us to endorse their unrepentant sin–want us to say it is not sin. We are right to speak out against that. Perhaps we are right to break fellowship. Perhaps the only way to do that (since it is unlikely that “they” will leave) is for us to go and form another association/fellowship/denonmination.
Jesus was still on his mission when he left the temple to go to the cross. Where is he leading us? Maybe a better question is, Are we willing to go if He is leading us to the cross? The cross could be to stay and be ridiculed, ostracized, feeling powerless and silenced, in the minority but faithful to the mission. The cross could be to go without pension and property, through long court battles, but faithful to the mission. Should we go or stay? I don’t have an answer, but I intend to be faithful to the mission wherever he calls me.
Peter left a comment in response that is threefold. All I can say is Amen. The denomination is in error. We cannot be in the position of asking permission. This is our kairos moment. We will stand with those who have confessed Jesus is Lord or will we stutter?
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