The following is the second excerpt from ONE Ekklesia: The Vision and Practice of God’s Eternal Purpose by Henry Hon. Great book encouraging people to become one.
Despite the twists and turns, ups and downs of church history, after 500 years since the Reformation, the truth and mystery concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ hidden in the New Testament is readily available. The way of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone is well accepted and established. Major doctrines such as Calvinism versus Arminianism have been thoroughly discussed and debated, the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit are here to stay, and just about all the practices in the New Testament have been uncovered and discussed. Now, all these items are available and easily accessible for believers to consider before the Lord. Believers can search the Scriptures on their own, hear ideas from different, and at times opposing Bible teachers while allowing the Word of God, coinciding with the Holy Spirit, to enlighten their understanding and open their spiritual eyes.
They can discern for themselves what is healthy to keep and practice; and what is non-essential or not worth arguing over. This, of course, is a far cry from pre-Reformation times, when the truth found in the Bible was completely hidden; where the Bible itself was not available to common people.
However, the negative results of this “new-then-institutionalized” cycle as previously discussed is just as profound. Many denominations and independent Christian groups have separated and divided believers in direct opposition to the building up of the One Body of Christ and continue to do so to this day. Since anyone can pick up something new from the Bible or from spiritual experiences, it is rather easy to start a group, which often becomes a “church,” whether big or small.
There are now tens of thousands of church institutions, each with its own identifier (Baptist or Lutheran, for example). Christians, who have identified themselves with one of these groups and have become loyal to their system of doctrine and practice, may then, with a bias, overlook teachings and practices within their church system which may be unscriptural, even contrary to God’s desire. For example, some Catholic believers do not agree with the infallibility of the pope or praying to a saint’s image. However, since they are loyal to the Catholic Church, they often overlook or do not object to unscriptural traditions which are contrary to God’s commandment. As a result, the Body of Christ is more splintered. The one fellowship of the Body of Christ, with believers loving one another according to the Lord’s new commandment, seems just as foreign as ever.
Notwithstanding, due to the Lord’s Prayer for oneness, God’s desire to complete His eternal purpose has been placed in the heart of every follower of Jesus. The desire to enjoy unity with other believers is a constant. Christians are tired of infighting among and within churches. It seems there is no solution to solving divisions among the churches; nevertheless, hope remains: The Lord’s prayer for unity which the world can see to believe in Him will be fulfilled.
Therefore, even the writing of this book is a result of that abiding hope, and the conviction that something fresh is being discovered. It needs to be presented to help energize fellow believers in understanding the Scriptures to fulfill the Lord’s Prayer for His people to be one.
Just as in secular learning where each subsequent generation builds upon previous discoveries, knowledge, and mistakes, so does Biblical understanding and spiritual experience. For example, today’s researchers do not need to start from scratch to discover electricity before inventing the next generation of electronic products. If that were the case, every generation would be stuck in the Seventeenth Century. Instead, they can quickly learn from the body of knowledge before them – including failed experiments – so new discoveries can continue leading to better electronic products.
It is similar with spiritual knowledge. Today, believers do not need to fight the battle over the doctrine of the Trinity (hopefully, that doctrine is well-established in the minds of most believers); debate over whether Christ is both God and man was waged centuries ago. Arguments over whether people are justified by faith alone or figuring out what it means to experience the new birth (regeneration) – those issues have been resolved. We can build on previous battles won and learn from mistakes made; to progress as a body of believers toward the consummation of what God is after in His eternal purpose.
It is profoundly important believers learn from past mistakes. This will enable them to present something new, fresh, and inspiring – rendering spiritual help without creating more harm to the Body of Christ. Can the Lord continue His reset and building work without adding another layer of organizational confusion excluding believers and ministries? Absolutely!”
Although the Spirit continues to move, the assembly described in the New Testament with all believers in one fellowship in Jesus Christ, and meeting in homes – house by house – almost completely neglected. The true assembly has no hierarchy, nor human organization. Hierarchy is defined as levels of authorities to direct and control believers. All ministries should be for the building up of the assembly, but instead the opposite occurs – whole churches are formed around various ministries. Not only are major denominational churches formed around powerful ministers such as Luther, Calvin and Wesley, but most churches today are centered on the ministry of a teacher or preacher.
The assembly, on the other hand, consists of all believers having equal opportunity to speak no matter what their preferred doctrine or Christian practice. It doesn’t matter from whose ministry one is blessed (1 Cor. 1:9–13). Even with the best of intentions, churches built around ministries cannot avoid divisions among God’s people if the church becomes centered on emphasizing its ministry alone. Since there is often a clear direction for a ministry, it is understandable believers who distract from this ministry’s direction will not be welcomed. As a result, believers look for churches which suit them the best. The assembly, on the other hand, is one; it receives all believers, no matter their preference or distinctiveness (Rom. 14).
To find out more about Henry Hon and One Body Life click here.
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