Q37. Harmony

[Pastor Ralph]

Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3) How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony?

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Q37 We are equal parts of the body of Christ, equally assigned parts of a whole being guides by Christ.  If one part thinks of himself as of more important than another, we are off in spiritual alignment.  Are we then disruptive to our church's assignment?  We are humble, harmonious servants in steadfast agreement with each other pushing forward to the goal of serving Christ. Examples to others who are looking and deciding their own place in Christ.  Tensions in the body of Christ may harm the body delaying the work in the body of Christ. We need to eliminate all tensions with grace and trust for each other.  We are chosen to be children of the God.  Having received the love and grace of God, we have no reward in strife.  We lessen tension and deceit with private prayer within church leadership.  Prayer in the spirit is the solution.  It may help to have parties in despair to work together in some basic business of the church.  Member must be brought together to practice harmony toward one another.

[George L]

Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3)

1. How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Conceit is self satisfied and self derived. It takes no contribution from others as needed for it’s status. It is seperated by nature.
2. Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? The body of Christ should cover it’s territory like a blanket, warm and secure. It should maintain the covering rather than rend it and make it ineffective.
3. What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? We have grown from our evangelistic efforts gathering people so adding folks wanting to take part in ‘doing’ at church as well. Our organization remains as a fourty/fifty family size church. The organization is nolonger able to organize and coordinate events with 100 members, church events and active external tent evangalism effort, with the old management capacity. The failures to coordinate needed manpower to set up, tear down, store, retrieve for events and ministry scheduled needs begins to offend the new people being left out by the old patterns of notification, who to tell. Change is always a stressor. God will have his growth and managing will be learned,, and expand to handle the growth. Discomfort is a useful tool in this situation.
4. How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony? Explain to those with ruffled feathers that no change is smooth and expect some errors which drive learning. It is as refining silver with the church in the refiners vessel. God’s word to those who pray. Blow gently. It is maintaining peace and unity as appreciation for the issues of growing population who want to be active not just watchers. Knowing what is happening aids the teaching opportunities and continuing our unity in the growth. Truth is we are likely headed for 300 and not level out at 150.

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Q37 Romans !2:17; Ephesians $:1-3   (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3)
1. How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Conceit has been a concern for my church. It cancels the spiritual discipline we seek in my church.  We,being called can sense the lack of spiritual growth in certain members.  As scripture teachs our old nature is dead, behold all is new.  We cannot assume that we all are changed. Discernment is needed.  Renewing of the mind is only through our lord.  Early values, earthly spirits. We are like minded and we need to pray for humily in all members of Christ.                           

2. Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? 12 apostles 12 personalities.  Jesus taught that Like minded people keeping there focus on the nature of Christ could flourish in the vine of truth. They are teachable and would grow spiritually together in one head, Christ.                           

 3.What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit?  Tensions come from members lack of knowledge and discerning of the spiritual mesage of the body of Christ.  Each part brought together as one.  Some members cannot accept their role in the body and then prefer to chose their role.  Spiritual growth is halted by lack of humility. Spiritual renewal is blocked by lack of humility.  There is no compromise in spiritual values.                                                                                         

4.How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony?  Our church leadership fails the body by falling for favorites clergy.  Christian life is not a democracy.  Growth is provided by utilizing memberships indiviual spiritual gifts.  What is your spiritual gift and how to apply it to the body of Christ.

Thank-you for your reply, I can see growth in my spirit man and my reponses.  Clarity is Godly. Thank-you

                          

[hanks]

Q37. (ROMANS 12:16; EPHESIANS 4:1-3) 
How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and His apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony? 
In order to live in harmony with others it is necessary that every existence of sinful pride be banished. Jesus taught us to treat all people with respect, never considering others as being beneath us. It does not matter what their race, ethnicity, or social position is. We are all united in Christ, and all made in the image of God. Do not use people to help us climb the social ladder. Jesus and His disciples are our absolute example of unity of the Spirit. In a congregation unity is threatened when pride takes hold of a person or persons causing division. This can take place in many forms such as impatience, jealousy, boasting, rudeness, inflated self-opinions, and because of our sinful nature the list goes on and on. We can lessen these tensions and promote harmony by loving our fellow believers. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs … (1 Cor 13:4-7). 
 

[Clelie]

Conceit is pride, which produces impatience, criticism and  every negative feelings  that make it impossible  to live in harmony with  others.

Jesus and his apostles know that unity in the Spirit is  important to keep the members of the body of Christ as one .

Sometimes there is intolerance , impatience and lack of love that threaten the unity of the Spirit. 

[Brenda Joy]

Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3) How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony?

Pride says I am more important than you.  Conceit brings disunity and exalts self.    Unity is key because it allows us to learn and grow together.  Jesus wants us to be with eachother so that we can live out his will personally and corporately.     Some of the tensions in our congregation is the to do list, some think it doesnt get accomplished quick enough.  I believe we must enjoy the process as its unto the Lord and celebrate the items checked off and look forward to the next thing to celebrate.

[Brother Clifford wilson]

21 hours ago, hanks said:

Q37. (ROMANS 12:16; EPHESIANS 4:1-3) 
How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and His apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony? 
In order to live in harmony with others it is necessary that every existence of sinful pride be banished. Jesus taught us to treat all people with respect, never considering others as being beneath us. It does not matter what their race, ethnicity, or social position is. We are all united in Christ, and all made in the image of God. Do not use people to help us climb the social ladder. Jesus and His disciples are our absolute example of unity of the Spirit. In a congregation unity is threatened when pride takes hold of a person or persons causing division. This can take place in many forms such as impatience, jealousy, boasting, rudeness, inflated self-opinions, and because of our sinful nature the list goes on and on. We can lessen these tensions and promote harmony by loving our fellow believers. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs … (1 Cor 13:4-7). 
 

I remind myself that in many ways we are like the disciples, learning and leaning on the Lord, reliying on faith along the way. The disciples surely had pride and disceit within their activities.  Learning by listening to Christ prepares us to overcome these traits that come from being physical human. The joy comes in the moment that Christ hears us want to repent from those traits and bad habits, teachingus in his word and replying with his spirit in us.  Healing us.. We are blessed to have the spirit of God within us working a newness in us as Jesus had to teach his disciples in all area.of living and interacting with one another.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3)

How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others?

A conceit character always of too proud and has a negative effect.

Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles?

The Spirit is oneness, therefor unity of the Spirit is crucial.

What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit?

Applying of doctrine. 

How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony?

Purely to match what the Word of GOD says.

[Lisa Wolf]

Q37. (Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:1-3) How does conceit make it difficult to live in harmony with others? Why do you think maintaining the unity of the Spirit is such a high value for Jesus and his apostles? What are the tensions in your own congregation that threaten the unity of the Spirit? How can you lessen those tensions and promote harmony?

Interesting that Jesus prayed for unity--that His followers and He and His Father would be ONE. (John 17:20-23) Romans 12:16 commands us to live in harmony and it tells us clearly: do not be conceited.  Conceit and arrogance are the opposite of humility and the pride behind them creates a huge barrier to unity.  With every decision made, there are always people who think differently. One example of tension in our church is in regards to women in leadership.  Promoting harmony, I do not voice my opinion loudly; I pray for the pastors and staff, and pray asking God to work.

[Krissi]

Could it be the case that the desire for harmony/unity has to be balanced with the sorts of things that Christ actually did in His life? Jesus’ “church” was not the little clique he formed with twelve disciples, but one that existed in Judaism writ large and more specifically in the local Jewish synagogues of his youth and homeland. So, did Jesus seek harmony in his “church?”  Clearly, He did not.  Church unity doesn’t even seem to be a positive value to Him. Jesus attacked church leaders. Ruthlessly. He mocked them. Egged them on. He invited their vicious response by constantly exposing their faithless pride and ridiculous theological habits. He also attacked cultural habits like selling sacrificial stuff in the “church.” Furthermore, He attacked those who were hurting others, those who had power and authority or were just nasty people. Jesus wasn't a nice go-along-to-get-along guy. He was God. He was righteous. He defended truth with words and deeds.

The greatest, most transformational, figures in Christian history were bold, fearless and, yes, offensive. Think: Luther.  When he addressed corruption within the church, it literally spun out into the culture causing wars! Two sides were formed -- the institutionalists who wanted to preserve the status quo and the reformers who wanted the church to "return" to it's roots. Luther teaches us that some things are worth fighting for and unity and peaceableness should not be the primary goals of faith. 

The gospel is offensive within and outside of church. It doesn't stop offending inside church walls. Among believers, the gospel offends when the Holy Spirit works in our lives, rubbing us the wrong way, making us more like Him. In many cases, harmonious churches are dimmed and lukewarm, for when the gospel stops mattering, people more easily get along. At that point, the church becomes just another social club or B-grade country club with the nastiness and backbiting characterized within these sorts of collectivities. In contrast, churches that are growing in the Spirit are in a state of turmoil or at least change. To be commanded to be salt and light implies that the prior situation was dim and tasteless. Or totally secular. Yet this is what we’re called to do – we are to be salt and light: to rub salt into your skin makes it smart … to turn on the lights makes you blink uncomfortably.

In times of cultural quietude and ease, seeking harmony and unity could be a worthy goal, but now, as the world hurtles toward its many self-created crises, seeking unity, frankly, seems like missing the mark entirely. This is not a time to put harmony over truth-telling, reformation and the exercise of cultural power.

I see Jesus as an anti-unity figure – He much preferred divisiveness to a lack of purity and verve in the church. I don’t think we’re to pick fights needlessly, which may be what Pastor Ralph is getting at here. But somehow, we have to be good and kind while zealously guarding the parameters of faith. No, that’s not right. We have to gain ground, not put up walls to protect ourselves. We have to plunge into war, not hide in church bunkers. We’re not just gentle lambs led to slaughter – we’re vital lions commanded to rule. It could be the case that one reason why the church is so sidelined in Western culture today – but is in the first throes of revival! – is that it cowered and retreated, sought unity and avoided conflict, both inside and outside congregations. Fizzled ecumenism projects speak to this. 

In the 1990s, and many decades before, the member-hemorrhaging oldline denominations in the United States had an organization called the National Council of Churches which existed, according to their own documents, to promote church unity and "speak with a unified voice." Reporters covering religious stories would regularly call their headquarters in NYC to get a quote or two -- they claimed to speak for all of us. So, what happened? No one even hears of them today. They fizzled, along with their unity-promoting projects. Their pretense of speaking with a unified voice was destroyed by the charismatic movement and the myriad of non-denominational churches that were formed, mostly, by people leaving oldline churches, that is, de-unifying the whole. One must conclude, then, that unity as a goal doesn't work. As long as it can be imposed/coerced, it will survive as a mirage, but unity is from Christ and on this earth wears a gazillion different outfits. 

A vital church has a bit of tension and churn. Naturally. Any two whole people will clash, occasionally, not just about the stupid stuff but about the big issues of life … assuming they live big lives. This isn’t about mere idiosyncrasies. Or, personality defects. It’s about clashing worldviews and the willingness to GO, to do something, to spread the gospel message, to jump into hot waters and risk everything for Him. Harmony and unity could be, at times, byproducts of pursing His will, but they are NOT goals in themselves.

Sometimes I picture churches as tiny tropical islands where Christians sit in the wafting warm breezes, stretching their toes in the sand ... while surrounded by an ocean full of cyclones they choose to ignore, a turbulent culture in which they do not exercise their Christian gifts. Jesus came to kick us off these islands into the big, bad world. He commanded us to heal and evangelize, take dominion over demons, be salt and light, to kick up a bit of dust, to offend ... to take risks. People on the island could look at those who answer Jesus' command to GO .. as conceited and worldly. However, the truth is that they're compelled by an inner voice, the Spirit within, to get off the island and OBEY, to not think about the consequences of obedience (such as lack of unity) but just obey. 

[Old Jerry]

If we are conceited then that means that they are better then everybody and we can not communicate with them. If they are conceited then they don’t need to listen to others because they have all the answers. I have seen what happens when we don’t have unity with the spirit in church, then then the church splits. That is why it was so important for the disciples to have unity. I don’t see any tension in our church.

[Kak]

Q37. If we are conceited we are proud and not humble. We will be unlikely to live in harmony with others! God has called His followers to be humble and to respect and honor others around us. God considers us all to be equal and He has made us all in His own image. Jesus wants us maintain the unity of the Spirit because we are His representatives on this earth. Jesus was our greatest example of humility and there was great unity between Jesus and His disciples. If we truly love God and our Church body and family we will at all times try as far as it is in our power to maintain the unity of the Spirit. The unity is the glue which keeps the body bound together.

In my  church we have a wonderful sense of unity cooperation and hard work. However we have been through a very hard, discouraging time because of discipline issues within the church. It torn the church apart! It has been a huge learning curve that I hope will never happen again. But God is faithful He has brought us through it and the church is beginning to thrive again. With some leaving sadly, but others including myself deciding to be guided by God’s word and to trust Him and carryon. It has taken three years and a lot of heartache and our dear Pastor having a break down and resigning, but God is leading and guiding us into the future . We have all learnt that unity is precious and needs to be worked on , and we all have a major part to play. None of us can be passive members we all must play our part, no matter how humble it may be.The most important piece of learning for me was that no matter how difficult a situation is , as followers of Jesus we must obey Scripture. We are serving God not Man!