Unity Beautifully Modeled

Acts 15:30-32: "The men were sent off (by the elders of the Church of Jerusalem to the Church at Antioch), where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas (not to be confused with Judas Ischariot)and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers."

All too often today, we see disunity and abuse of power within the walls of churches; it seems as if many modern congregations in America are stirred more by confrontational issues than passion for Our Lord. Whereas we seldom see people getting excited about their relationship with Christ, we too often see people in the church becoming enraged at carpet color selections, music styles, and other insignificant matters.

What we have wonderfully modeled for us in Acts 15 is the proper disposition that we are to have as the unified body of Christ. In this chapter in Acts, an issue of disagreement arose in the Church at Antioch between certain Judaizers (who believed that new converts had to observe certain Jewish rites [like circumcision] to be redeemed by Christ) and Paul and Barnabas (who preached that salvation was not contingent upon certain ritual observances but was initiated by God's grace alone [See Ephesians 2:8-9]).

The Church at Antioch decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some other believers to the elders and apostles in Jerusalem to seek guidance as to what should be done to resolve this dispute. What is wonderful is the way in which the elders and apostles responded to the Church at Antioch; they did not treat the visiting guests with disdain, but loved them as they shared words of instruction with them.

As the elders and apostles drafted a letter to the Church at Antioch, they began the document with the words, "The apostles and elders, your brothers" (15:23). Notice that these spiritual leaders referred to themselves as "brothers" to the congregants in Antioch. "Brothers" is a term of endearment to suggest that they all were collectively unified in purpose and position to serve the Lord and accomplish His will. These leaders did not attempt to lord over the Church at Antioch in order to manipulate them or exploit them for their self-adulation; rather, these leaders in Jerusalem had a genuine concern for their brothers 300 miles away in Antioch and wanted them to gain victory over this issue that had caused a stir within the church there.

The elders and apostles at Jerusalem sent delegates back with the visiting guests to Antioch to give the instructional word that everyone was anticipating, and when they arrived and shared the letter from the elders and apostles, the people were "glad for its encouraging message" (15:31). The word for "encouraging" (paraklesis) is a word that suggests "walking alongside another." It is a word that is used of the Holy Spirit in His loving support and strength for us as He walks alongside us in our life journey. Thus, the Church at Jerusalem did not treat the believers at Antioch with scorn or disdain; rather, they communicated their support of their brothers as they gave counsel to them concerning this issue.

This is such a tremendous message for the modern church today. We need to remember that every word that we share with fellow believers is to be seasoned with love. As we worship and serve the Lord together, we should let our brothers and sisters in Christ know that we are "walking alongside" them, supporting them in their journey with us. This is the love that is the evidential proof of our true commitment to our Lord (see I John 4:7-8).