Unity Among God’s End-Time People

From the beginning of time, it has been God’s ideal for His people to be united. It is one of the most important teachings of the Scriptures, being the paramount concern of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, even as He shrank from the horrors of the cross, just moments away. (See John 17.) But as we near the close of time, unity assumes more critical significance because of the perils confronting God’s true church. Here is how Inspiration states it: “As we approach the last crisis, it is of vital moment that harmony and unity exist among the Lord’s instrumentalities. The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head—the papal power—the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 182.

It is therefore clearly essential for all who claim to be God’s children to earnestly consider how they might achieve the unity for which Jesus prayed. This is the purpose of this study. It is not designed to be exhaustive by any means but merely to stimulate thought and, hopefully, action in the right direction.

They May Be One

The first point we must consider, as we look at this topic, is what exactly is comprehended in the prayer of Jesus. What did He have in mind for His disciples when He prayed “that they may be one, even as we are one”? John 17:22. The Holy Spirit offers a clue through Ellen White: “In these first disciples was presented marked diversity. They were to be the world’s teachers, and they represented widely varied types of character. In order successfully to carry forward the work to which they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was Christ’s object to secure. To this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself.” The Acts of the Apostles, 20.

Here we have a brief, yet profound, insight into God’s mind. All three levels of one’s character are comprehended in Jesus’ prayer for His people! He desired that they be united at the deepest level of thought and feeling, so they could demonstrate genuine outward unity of action. Anything short of this would be a counterfeit from the workshop of the enemy. It is alluded to in the first quote from volume 7 of the Testimonies above and is sometimes referred to as “confederacy,” which is a forced, superficial alliance binding otherwise incompatible parties, often for a very narrow objective. Once the objective is attained, the alliance usually breaks down. Commonly the domain of the political arena, such leagues are also seen in every apostate system of religion as well.

With Christian unity encompassing the very thoughts and feelings of individuals, it is not surprising that it is unattainable without perfection of character. This is why we are told:

“Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection.” The Sanctified Life, 85.

Now we have an explanation for the chaos we observe among God’s professed people. Perfection of character is still a distant, elusive goal for most of us! The reason for this sorry state is suggested in The Acts of the Apostles quote on the previous page—we are not united to Christ! No matter how spiritual we may appear to others, our separation from one another is an undeniable indicator of our separation from Jesus!

Unity not Uniformity

This excerpt also refers to another important point: Unity of thought, feeling, and action does not mean uniformity in every respect, as if we were clones of one another. The disciples of Jesus “presented marked diversity . . . [and] represented widely varied types of character.” The Acts of the Apostles, 20. Their unity was to be in spite of their differences. This may seem paradoxical, but it is in the study of this seeming inconsistency that we will find the solution to our own unity here at the end of time. Inspiration explains: “The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. In mind, in purpose, in character, they are one, but not in person.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1148.

“The branches in the True Vine are the believers who are brought into oneness by connection with the Vine.

“The connection of the branches with one another and with the Vine constitutes them a unity, but this does not mean uniformity in everything. Unity in diversity is a principle that pervades the whole creation. While there is an individuality and variety in nature, there is a oneness in their diversity; for all things receive their usefulness and beauty from the same Source.” Ibid., 1143.

Now we must try and answer the difficult question, Where is the line where diversity becomes incompatible with unity? We turn again to the words of Inspiration. “Our minds do not all run in the same channel, and we have not all been given the same work. God has given to every man his work according to his several ability. There are different kinds of work to be done, and workers of varied capabilities are needed. If our hearts are humble, if we have learned in the school of Christ to be meek and lowly, we may all press together in the narrow path marked out for us.” Ibid., 1148.

“There is altogether too little of the love of Christ in the hearts of those who claim to believe the truth. While all their hopes are centered in Jesus Christ, while His Spirit pervades the soul, then there will be unity, although every idea may not be exactly the same on all points.Counsels to Writers and Editors, 82.

These passages indicate that legitimate diversity may exist not only in the realm of responsibilities, abilities and talents, but in ideas as well. Unfortunately it is in accepting another person’s ideas that many Christians balk. They feel their own ideas superior, and if things are not according to their liking, they would rather not participate at all. For such individuals the Lord has strong counsel: “The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Christians are well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses. When one pulls forward, another pulls back, and at the voice of their master one plunges ahead and the other stands immovable. If men will not move in concert in the great and grand work for this time, there will be confusion. It is not a good sign when men refuse to unite with their brethren and prefer to act alone. Let laborers take into their confidence the brethren who are free to point out every departure from right principles. If men wear the yoke of Christ, they can not pull apart; they will draw with Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 258.

Unity Not Possible

However, we have not yet defined the line where diversity is so great that true unity is impossible. Again we must turn to the words of Divine Inspiration for counsel in this sensitive area. We find help in the history of the church of The Dark Ages. “There is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led further and further from the truth. . . . None understood so well how to oppose the true Christian faith as did those who had once been its defenders; and these apostate Christians, uniting with their half-pagan companions, directed their warfare against the most essential features of the doctrines of Christ.

“It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and abominations which were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church. The Bible was not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated and proscribed.

“After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.” The Great Controversy, 45.

Here we have an example of legitimate separation due to incompatible diversity. The church in the wilderness found it impossible to unite with those who were seeking to overthrow “the most essential features of the doctrines of Christ.” This is where they drew the line, and defended their stand with their blood. What is the lesson for us here? We must determine again “the most essential features of the doctrines” that define us as Seventh-day Adventists and be willing to die in their defense if necessary.

Essential Features

It is in the area of “the most essential features of our doctrines” that the wily devil has a trap laid out for the unwary. This trap explains the chaotic landscape of historic Adventism to date. It lies in the understanding of “the most essential features” of our faith. Each little group has its own list of doctrines, which it considers non-negotiable. Having convinced themselves that they are in the center of God’s will, they are smug in their isolationism. Numerous examples of deceptive reasoning may be cited that result in driving a wedge between brethren, creating division and discord. Clearly, this cannot be from God.

The question now is, How shall we solve the dilemma of this unfortunate standoff between members of the same faith? With each party claiming Spirit of Prophecy support, and refusing to budge, the task is daunting. It is the opinion of this author that harmony will never come about until two necessary criteria are fulfilled.

United With Christ

First, and most importantly, we must all be united with Jesus, as the following quote emphasizes:

“The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties—though there will be much of this to do—but union with Christ.” The Adventist Home, 179.

The need for this vertical union with Jesus all would readily agree to and even fervently pray for. But somehow horizontal unity still proves elusive, because consciously or otherwise, the blame for the lack of unity always seems to lie with those who happen to be outside an arbitrarily drawn circle. Rightly or wrongly, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” provides the universal justification for every separation. Amos 3:3.

Clearly, then, we need a more objective method of delineating the proper sized circle. This is the second criterion that must be fulfilled before God’s people can come into harmony. The circle must include everybody whom God, from His infallible perspective, would consider His true son or daughter, and exclude everyone else.

Elevated Importance

Where can we look for help in this regard? Surprisingly, to the experience of the church in 1888. Here, hidden beneath the surface, we find the divine solution to our dilemma. It will be recalled that the law in Galatians was at the heart of a contentious debate between A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner on the one hand, and the senior leadership of the church on the other. The leadership was decidedly of the opinion that if the new views were adopted, it would mean the end of the doctrinal orthodoxy of our faith. The old landmarks, they demurred, were in jeopardy. Fortunately, however, there was a living prophet around to give heaven’s assessment of the matter. The remark was made, about that famous dispute, “ ‘If our views of Galatians are not correct, then we have not the third angel’s message, and our position goes by the board; there is nothing to our faith.’

“I [Ellen White] said, ‘Brethren, here is the very thing I have been telling you. This statement is not true. It is an extravagant, exaggerated statement. If it is made in the discussion of this question I shall feel it my duty to set this matter before all that are assembled, and whether they hear or forbear tell them the statement is incorrect.

“The question at issue is not a vital question and should not be treated as such. The wonderful importance and magnitude of this subject has been exaggerated, and for this reason—through misconception and perverted ideas—we see the spirit that prevails at this meeting, which is unchristlike, and which we should never see exhibited among brethren. There has been a spirit of Pharisaism coming in among us which I shall lift my voice against wherever it may be revealed.’ ” Selected Messages, Book 3, 174, 175.

Notice that the leading brethren had elevated the importance of their views on Galatians to that of a “most essential feature” of our faith, even tying them with the third angel’s message. They had in effect constructed a circle so tightly that Jones and Waggoner, and Mrs. White too, were excluded. A major crisis was in the offing, threatening to split the church down the middle. But the Lord, speaking through His prophet, dismissed their fretting as mere hyperbole. They had seriously erred, not only in their understanding of Galatians, but as well in defining the old landmarks. These alone could properly constitute the line of separation.

Most Essential Features

Mrs. White then enumerated for us “the most essential features” of our faith, which were to demarcate true Adventism till the end of time. Here is that most important passage: “In Minneapolis God gave precious gems of truth to His people in new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence they knew not what the old landmarks were. There was evidence and there was reasoning from the word that commended itself to the conscience; but the minds of men were fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it was a dangerous error removing the old landmarks when it was not moving a peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what constituted the old landmarks.

“The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God’s people upon the earth, [also] the first and second angels’ messages and the third, unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, ‘The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ One of the landmarks under this message was the temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark containing the law of God. The light of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors of God’s law. The nonimmortality of the wicked is an old landmark. I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old landmarks. All this cry about changing the old landmarks is all imaginary.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30.

The lesson for us is unmistakable: Not even an understanding of the law in Galatians, important as it may be, is to separate brother from brother, so long as each stays within the bounds circumscribed by the landmarks of our faith, of Adventism. The corollary is likewise equally clear: Not one peg of the landmark truths God has given us as a people, “the most essential features” of our faith, is to be moved or altered. This would constitute treason against heaven and provide legitimate grounds for separation.

God has thus spoken in language that we can understand. Woe to us, therefore, who are separating over the most trivial of matters. Matters that pose no threat whatsoever to the landmarks of our faith. We have been deceived by the enemy—a disgrace to God, and a laughing stock of the devil. How shall we stand in the judgment, and defend our decision to hold at arm’s length brethren who differ from us merely on a nonessential point?

Doing Satan’s Work

We might call to mind many points of difference, which have all been blown out of proportion to divide brothers. Each, boldly willing to battle and die for the same Advent message, is yet strangely unwilling to embrace the other. God forgive our hard spirits. Our frigid Pharasaism must be a stench in His nostrils. Notice how precisely we have fulfilled the following description of the work of Satan, who must surely be exulting in his unqualified success: “By our unity we are to bear strong, indisputable evidence that Christ came to this world to save sinners. Satan works with all his ingenuity to prevent human beings from bearing this evidence. He wants them to develop an unsanctified individuality so that they shall not love one another. Too often professing Christians yield to him, and then the merest trifle causes a difference to spring up among them. Men and women professing godliness build walls of separation between them and their fellow workers, because not all think in exactly the same way, or follow exactly the same methods. Those who stand apart, refusing to harmonize, dishonor God before the world.” The Upward Look, 271.

The challenge before us is inarguable: Shall we set aside our self-made differences, come into line and unite on the foundation God has laid for true Seventh-day Adventists? Or will we remain the pawns of Satan, and go our separate ways? How much greater would be the glory to God if we came together now, voluntarily, in times of relative quiet, than later when we are forced by circumstances to link arms for our very survival! From the perspective of the time of trouble it is hard to imagine that there will be a seperate cave for each group and their nonessential points! Assuredly, this is when only “the most essential features” of our faith will matter. Every other consideration will be swept aside as a nonessential. Let us today adopt the mindset of the time of trouble to aid us in rightly applying Amos 3:3. For too long we have dishonored God by loosely using this text to build unwarranted barriers. God grant us grace to this end for His own name’s sake! Amen.

[All emphasis supplied.]

Sudhir K. Pandit is a full-time physician in Hot Springs, Arkansas, specializing in internal medicine and cardiology. He is also leader of a home church in Bismarck, Arkansas, and with the help of faithful believers, operates the Madison-style “Green Pastures Home School and Orphanage” in India under the ministry name “Salute Ministries.” He may be contacted by e-mail at sudpan@earthlink.net.