Are You United in Labor?
In industry, one surefire way to fail is for a bunch of rogues doing their own thing. If one worked on an assembly line in the auto production facility they would be but one member of a workforce of generally 3,000-9,000 workers. Each employee from the environmental manager to the engineer has a critical role in the plant's production. Imagine what occurs if people do not show up to work. In some industries, there are organized absences known as strikes. When a strike occurs, the common labor is hindered, and production is even halted.
Christians are not immune to the damages caused by strikes. Often these strikes come in the form of demands for better financial incentives or working conditions. All it takes is one or two organizers to start enough discontent to stop production. If Christians are going to be productive, we must make proper choices in our moral standards and our friends will either help or hinder that. The best friends for a Christian are other Christians because we understand the unity fully in Christ. Amos recorded, “Shall two walk together, except they have agreed” (Amos 3:3).
United Workers: Our Unity in Morality Binds Us
The idea of unity is presented throughout the New Testament. God commanded that the church was to all speak the same thing (cf. 1 Cor 1:10). The epistle to the Philippians includes several appeals to the unity that God desires. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel” cf. Philippians 1:27, emphasis mine). The word calls us to remember that we are called to and must conform to one standard. Paul also recorded later in Philippians with similar language, “ If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2, emphasis mine). This type of unity is often desired and often mimicked by worldly institutions where it is unattainable. Unity is not found in a secular state, social group, or school sports team. True unity is found solely in Christ. So we need to be careful to be unified in the closest relationships with our brethren. The Bible gives us direction on this, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever”? (2 Cor 6:14-15). We must trust God’s guidance on all things, particularly unity.
Organized in Identity
Our standard of morality and faithfulness is affected by with whom we spend the most time. Who should determine your view of faithfulness? This topic is not relative either. God has declared His view of what faithfulness is. As you may have observed, some treat worship like a job. We have to report at certain times and we punch in, and when the appointed time is over, we punch out and go on with our lives. Many of our critics point out this attitude among brethren. They seem to have an identity for one hour on the Lord’s Day and the rest of the week their identity becomes relative to the situation in which they find themselves.
New Testament Christianity is a lived-out religion. My relationship with the Lord is the center of a Christian’s life. When one chooses to obey the Gospel that one decision will determine every other decision we make. So many of our friends are searching or think they have found their identity. Christ is the common factor in any other identity.
My identity is first a Christian. That comes before my second most important identity, the husband of Kami, then the next most important, the father of Mayleigh and Gideon, followed by being a Gospel preacher with Grove church of Christ, and lastly there is everything else I do. My identity in Christ defines the husband, father, preacher, friend, writer, etc I am. Christ is everything! This was the attitude of Paul, “ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21) Paul’s mind was made up whatever turn his life took he knew his identity was in Christ. He could live in such a way because this was the mind of Christ (cf. Phil. 2:5-11)
Pay Your Dues to Christ and Man
Christians are called to be active, we all have roles to play in the growth of God’s kingdom. If one is not working for the sake of this kingdom, the kingdom suffers. All our works must be centered around the work of the kingdom. With every act of outreach, we need to ask: does this work lead to the teaching of the Gospel of Christ.
Remember Amos said, “Shall two walk together, except they have agreed” (Amos 3:3). Which way are you walking today? Are you walking toward the picket line? Are you walking disorderly (cf. 2 Thess 3:11)? You can turn around and walk with your brethren. You are very important to the work of spreading the Good News of Christ. You do not have to teach a Bible study to a friend or stranger, although if you can do so, I certainly encourage that. If you are unable to do this, maybe you could open your home up for that study and someone more apt to teach could come and study with your friend.
Could you write an encouraging word to someone in or out of the body of Christ? Could you send a text? Could you visit a member who is a shut-in? Could you ask the elders if there is something you could help with? There are so many things that we can be doing, sometimes we need to remember that we are all called to good works. Every member of every congregation worldwide plays a vital role in the production of disciples. Can we count on you to work in unity with the only Divine institution?
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
