Unity in Christ: Navigating Differences with Love

 

Summary

In our journey through Philippians, we find ourselves revisiting a theme that Paul emphasizes repeatedly: the challenge and necessity of unity within the church. In Philippians 4:2-4, Paul addresses two women, Euodia and Syntyche, urging them to agree in the Lord. This passage highlights the importance of harmony among believers, especially when disagreements arise over matters that are not explicitly addressed in Scripture, known as adiaphora. These are issues that are neither commanded nor forbidden by God, and they often become points of contention within the church.

Paul's approach to resolving such disputes is not to dictate a solution but to encourage believers to discern what is essential to the gospel and what falls under Christian liberty. In Romans 14, Paul provides principles for navigating adiaphora, emphasizing that each believer must decide for themselves what is right, without judging others. This requires a deep understanding of Scripture and a commitment to love and unity within the body of Christ.

The principles outlined in Romans 14 guide us in handling adiaphora: distinguishing between gospel essentials and indifferent matters, making personal decisions before God, refraining from judging others, and recognizing that Christian liberty is not unrestrained. Our freedom in Christ is tempered by our love for others and our desire to glorify God. This means that while we have the liberty to make personal choices, we must also consider how our actions affect the unity and witness of the church.

As we apply these principles, we face real-life challenges, such as differing opinions on worship styles, pandemic responses, and even church facility decisions. In each case, the call is to prioritize love, unity, and the glory of God over personal preferences. By doing so, we can maintain harmony and effectively witness to the world the transformative power of the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

- Unity in Diversity: The call to agree in the Lord is a call to unity amidst diversity. It requires us to distinguish between gospel essentials and adiaphora, recognizing that not every disagreement is a matter of right and wrong. This discernment is crucial for maintaining harmony within the church. [06:56]

- Personal Conviction and Accountability: Each believer must decide for themselves what is right in matters of adiaphora, standing accountable before God for their choices. This personal conviction should be informed by Scripture and guided by a desire to honor God in all things. [19:26]

- Judgment and Humility: Judging others in matters of adiaphora is an act of arrogance, as it assumes the role of Christ as judge. We must resist the temptation to judge and instead embrace humility, recognizing that each believer is accountable to God alone. [22:27]

- Restrained Liberty: Christian liberty is not unrestrained; it is guided by love for others and the glory of God. Our actions should build up the body of Christ and enhance our witness to the world, rather than causing division or stumbling. [25:08]

- Practical Application in Community: Applying these principles in real-life situations, such as worship preferences or pandemic responses, requires a commitment to love and unity. By prioritizing the glory of God and the good of the community, we can navigate disagreements with grace and maintain the unity of the Spirit. [32:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:49] - Introduction to Philippians 4:2-4
- [06:56] - Understanding Adiaphora
- [11:28] - Principles from Romans 14
- [15:59] - Distinguishing Essentials from Adiaphora
- [19:26] - Personal Conviction and Accountability
- [22:27] - The Danger of Judging Others
- [25:08] - Restrained Christian Liberty
- [26:52] - Challenges in Applying Principles
- [29:26] - Real-Life Examples: Worship and COVID
- [32:27] - Facility Decisions and Unity
- [35:52] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 4:2-4
- Romans 14:1-23
- Romans 15:5-6

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Observation Questions:

1. In Philippians 4:2-4, who are the individuals Paul addresses, and what does he urge them to do? [03:49]

2. What are the three issues of adiaphora that Paul addresses in Romans 14? [11:28]

3. How does Paul describe the relationship between Christian liberty and love for others in Romans 14? [22:27]

4. According to the sermon, why does Paul not specify the issue between Euodia and Syntyche? [06:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of adiaphora help believers navigate disagreements within the church? [06:56]

2. What does it mean for each believer to stand accountable before God for their choices in matters of adiaphora? [19:26]

3. How can judging others in matters of adiaphora be seen as an act of arrogance, according to the sermon? [22:27]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christian liberty should be restrained by love and the glory of God? [25:08]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent disagreement you had with another believer. How did you handle it, and how might the principles of adiaphora change your approach in the future? [06:56]

2. Consider a personal conviction you hold that might be considered adiaphora. How do you ensure that this conviction is informed by Scripture and honors God? [19:26]

3. Have you ever found yourself judging another believer's choices in matters of adiaphora? How can you practice humility and resist this temptation? [22:27]

4. Think of a situation where your exercise of Christian liberty might have affected the unity of your church. How can you adjust your actions to prioritize love and unity? [25:08]

5. How can you apply the principles of Romans 14 to current issues in your church, such as worship preferences or pandemic responses? [32:27]

6. Identify a specific area in your life where you can freely restrain your Christian liberty for the sake of others. What steps will you take to do this? [25:08]

7. How can you contribute to the unity of your church by distinguishing between gospel essentials and adiaphora in your conversations and actions? [15:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Amidst Diversity
In Philippians 4:2-4, Paul addresses the need for unity within the church, especially when disagreements arise over adiaphora—issues neither commanded nor forbidden by God. He urges believers to discern what is essential to the gospel and what falls under Christian liberty. This discernment is crucial for maintaining harmony within the church, as not every disagreement is a matter of right and wrong. By focusing on gospel essentials and allowing for diversity in non-essential matters, believers can foster a spirit of unity that reflects the love and grace of Christ. [06:56]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Think of a recent disagreement you had with a fellow believer. How can you prioritize unity and love over being right in this situation today?


Day 2: Personal Conviction and Accountability
Each believer is called to make personal decisions in matters of adiaphora, standing accountable before God for their choices. This requires a deep understanding of Scripture and a commitment to honor God in all things. Personal conviction should be informed by a desire to glorify God and should not be imposed on others. By focusing on their own walk with God, believers can maintain a clear conscience and contribute to the unity of the church. [19:26]

Romans 14:5 (ESV): "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."

Reflection: Identify an area where you feel strongly convicted. How can you ensure that your conviction is rooted in Scripture and not merely personal preference?


Day 3: Judgment and Humility
Judging others in matters of adiaphora is an act of arrogance, as it assumes the role of Christ as judge. Believers are called to resist the temptation to judge and instead embrace humility, recognizing that each person is accountable to God alone. By refraining from judgment, believers can foster an environment of grace and acceptance, allowing for diverse expressions of faith within the body of Christ. [22:27]

James 4:12 (ESV): "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"

Reflection: Consider someone whose choices you have judged in the past. How can you practice humility and grace towards them today?


Day 4: Restrained Liberty
Christian liberty is not unrestrained; it is guided by love for others and the glory of God. Believers are called to use their freedom in Christ to build up the body of Christ and enhance their witness to the world. This means considering how their actions affect the unity and witness of the church, and choosing to prioritize love and unity over personal preferences. [25:08]

1 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV): "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."

Reflection: Reflect on a personal freedom you exercise. How can you ensure it does not become a stumbling block to others in your community?


Day 5: Practical Application in Community
Applying the principles of unity, personal conviction, and restrained liberty in real-life situations requires a commitment to love and unity. Whether it is differing opinions on worship styles, pandemic responses, or church facility decisions, believers are called to prioritize the glory of God and the good of the community. By navigating disagreements with grace, believers can maintain the unity of the Spirit and effectively witness to the world the transformative power of the gospel. [32:27]

Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Think of a community decision you are involved in. How can you contribute to a spirit of love and unity in this situation today?

Quotes



This issue is the incredible challenge of the saints to agree with one another in the Lord, and about why this is both so difficult and also so important to the body of Christ. And the reason I keep preaching in this is because, like I said, the scriptures keep bringing this back up. Last time when we dealt with this topic, someone asked me in the lobby, someone said, there must be some real issue of division going on in the church. That's why you're talking about this. No. [00:02:19] (33 seconds)


As far as I know, there's not any real big division issue in our church. We're not a perfect church. I'm sure we disagree about some things. But the reason I'm talking about this again is not because I'm trying to solve some problem in the church. It's because we're on a long, slow walk through the book of Philippians, and it brings us back to this topic again because Paul keeps bringing it back up. [00:02:52] (19 seconds)


He does not identify what it is that they can't agree about in the Lord, and I think that's significant because I think that indicates that whatever it is they can't agree over is not an issue of what is right and what is wrong. I think if that were the case, Paul would have addressed the issue. [00:06:33] (17 seconds)


And the early church, I'm talking about the apostolic church, obviously the church in Corinth, the church in Rome, and the church in Philippi, were struggling about how to agree with one another in the Lord. And I'm just taking a guess here, but if the church in Corinth struggled with it, and the church in Rome struggled with it, and the church in Philippi struggled with it, I hardly doubt that the church in Benbrook is not going to struggle with this issue at some point in some time. [00:09:23] (25 seconds)


Principle number one, each one must honestly distinguish between gospel essentials and adiaphora. This is essential to the entire conversation, isn't it? What does Scripture speak to and what does Scripture not speak to? What does the whole counsel of God say about this particular issue? Is it, in fact, an issue of Christian liberty, or is it something that God has already spoken to very clearly? Is it adiaphora or not? [00:13:52] (31 seconds)


So the first corollary to the first rule here is this. It is very difficult to agree in the Lord if one party thinks the issue is a gospel essential and another party thinks it's adiaphora. It's very difficult to agree in the Lord. That's why this first issue is so important. Let me give you a couple examples. [00:15:47] (18 seconds)


So that's principle number one. Principle number two, regarding adiaphora in different things, regarding adiaphora, each must decide for themselves what is right for themselves. Now I'm, now to be very clear, this is regarding issues of adiaphora, the indifferent things, the things that Scripture is neither command, commanded nor forbidden, that the areas of Christian liberty. [00:17:42] (27 seconds)


Paul's saying it's an issue of Christian liberty, but still you have to stand before the Lord and give an accounting for why it is that you have chosen to live out your faith in that particular way. It's not just to be randomly chosen or flip a coin, but to be well thought out for me as a follower of Christ in this situation, in this venue. [00:20:05] (18 seconds)

The other person, the other believer, they have to stand and give an account to the Lord for their decision, but we are not their judge. So here's the third corollary, the corollary that goes with this principle. Judging others is to arrogantly take the place of Jesus Christ as their judge. [00:21:23] (20 seconds)


The practice of Christian liberty is restrained by our love for other believers and the impact that our practice of Christian liberty has on others. It's not unrestrained. The second thing that restrains Christian liberty is the glory of God. Our calling to shine like stars in the universe in a corrupt world, and so we must consider how our practice of Christian liberty is impacting the gospel. [00:24:09] (29 seconds)


Christian liberty is restrained by our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and by our seeking to glorify God. So I guess here's a simple formula. Faithfully discern. We need to faithfully discern, biblically discern what is this issue, a matter of audio for, or is this something God has clearly spoken to? Faithfully discern. Faithfully decide. So free, excuse me, faithfully discern, freely decide. [00:26:03] (28 seconds)


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