Unity Yes! Compromise No!

Saints,

Listen to the heart of Jesus:

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:20-21

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34-35

He prayed for us. How awesome and how wonderful that is! What did He pray? Jesus prayed that every single believer, every single born-again Christian, would be united, just as He's united with the Father. And ... His command to every single believer was that we would truly love one another, as He has loved us.

Why unity? Why love? "That the world may believe that thou (God) hast sent me (Jesus)." That "by this (love for one another) shall all [men] know that ye (born-again Christians) are my (Jesus') disciples." We are witnesses of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, by our unity and love for one another.

Now, regarding unity ... Are we to have unity at all costs, with everyone who professes to be a Christian? No, not so fast! Let there be no compromise. Unity ... Yes! Love ... Yes! Compromise ... No! We are not to have unity at the expense of the fundamental truths of the faith. That is compromise. If we do this, we do it to our own hurt.

Remember the exhortation in Jude to earnestly contend for the faith!

How do we contend for the faith?

John wrote, in his first epistle, to try every spirit, to see whether or not it is sent by the true and living God. Why? Because of false prophets in the world and spirits that are opposed to Christ. Paul wrote to the Ephesians to test everything and to hold fast to things which are good. And Jesus Himself warned us of false prophets and false Christs. What did He basically say of them ... DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THEM!

How do we try every spirit? How do we test everything? What is it that will protect us from being deceived?

Pick up your sword Saint and use it! Listen, calling your Bible your sword is not just Christian lingo; remember that it is spiritual truth. Sadly, it seems like when we hear from our pastors that we are at war in the world, we hardly blink an eye; but it is spiritual truth!

Saint, we try every spirit, we test everything, and we protect ourselves from deception, by the word of God. Satan, the deceiver, is busy, busy, busy. He is continually walking about the earth (he is real), seeking whom he may devour. How does he devour people? By his lies.

We are at war, and it is the war for truth.

Unity Yes! Compromise No! We are to love and have fellowship with those who are truly born-again, but we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Paul warned the Corinthians about bearing with those who preached another Jesus, another spirit, and another Gospel. Don't bear with them! If they are preaching another Jesus, another spirit, another Gospel, they are unbelievers. We are not to be yoked together with them in any way.

Stand upon the truth and authority of the Scriptures (denying all traditions that oppose them) and proclaim it boldly to the world.

Your brother in Christ,

One Clay Soldier among many