Sermon Notes : 21 June 2009 by David J. Cowley , Reader
CHURCH UNITY : Keeping up appearances ?
Psalm 133 read today is a beautiful song poem about the family unity of God’s people.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity ( as one )”
The context of this psalm, which is part of a series of 15 ( Ps. 120-134 ) called “Songs of Ascent”, has received a number of interpretations.
1) It is possibly a Wisdom psalm, praising the longstanding Israelite tradition of “dwelling together united” so that God’s land, which is held in trust for Him, should receive His blessing. Developing commerce and migration from country to towns was often attracting young men to sell off their share of any land inheritance on the death of their father, and seek their fortune away from the land. Cf West of Ireland eg Donegal , and many other places globally ! This trend threatened to destroy the traditional structure of society. So the psalm urges the blessings from the Lord of keeping to the ancient ways.
Family unity has social consequences cf. UK : alarming statistics of social breakdown and harm to children’s welfare with the decline in family structure.
2) A second possibility is that the psalm celebrates the return of the Jewish priests and Levites from the Babylonian captivity and the joy of being together again in God’s sanctuary for worship.
A unity expressed in worship.
3) Finally and most probable, the psalm could be a pilgrim song, as people went up especially at the festivals to Mount Zion, to the temple
A unity of purpose and solidarity in remembrance of what God had done for the people as a nation.
Two metaphors are used to describe the outstanding goodness and benefits of unity
a) The special anointing oil poured profusely over the Aaronic priest at his consecration, flowing from head to beard and dripping over all his body ! Not an attractive picture for us maybe, but this oil was laced with sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia lignea, so that a wonderful exquisite perfume invaded the surrounding air – reaching the people nearby – far better than any famous name aftershave !
True unity spreads its benefits and sweetens the mood of all who come near.
b) The Dew of Hermon : a great mountain peak ( on the present Israel-Syria border ) often bathed in heavy mists where the accumulated water re-appeared lower down in springs of refreshing pure water, enriching the land and sustaining life and fruitfulness.
The psalmist uses these pictures of the good effects of family unity and sums up the result in verse 3 : “for there the Lord bestows blessing, even life for evermore.”
Unity, and the benefits flowing from it, are a GIFT of God.
In the New testament, a similar theme is taken up regarding the unity of the body of Christian believers, the Church of Jesus Christ.
John 17 : 20-23 ( The great prayer of Jesus for his disciples )
….that they all may be one, Father, …..that the world may believe that You sent me ….May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them …..
Amazing concepts here …unbelievers ( the world ) almost seem to have the right to reject the authenticity of the message if they do not see and sense the love and unity of Christ’s followers.
This unity is a gift from God, yet we as Christians in our local church family, or in a global communion, need to strive to demonstrate that unity before a watching world.
Romans 15 : 5,6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Eph. 4 : 2,3,5 Be completely humble and gentle ; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace….There is One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all
We are urged always to preserve, guard, keep the unity given by God – not to try to organize it or to artificially try to add in incompatible elements of thought.
There are two major ways in which unity can be destroyed, which are ever present as threats.
1) Divisiveness in personal relationships of members of a church, from our sinful natures of pride, greed, self-importance, rivalry.
Paul puts his finger on the key concept that should govern our conduct towards each other : Philippians 2 : 3-5 abandon selfish ambition and conceit ………in humility consider others better than yourself …..look to the interests of others ….(above all) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus ( laying aside what was his by right in order to serve obediently, even to death on a cross )
So practically, will we nurse our grievances and hurts when others cut across us, disagree with us, or offend – or will we forgive or ask forgiveness, seek to agree, be reconciled in Christ, to preserve the precious gift of unity before a needy world ?
2) Departure from the sound teaching and doctrine of the foundational apostles.
The NT is full of warnings against false teachers, deceiving arguments, and the attacks of evil spiritual powers to overthrow the truth of the gospel and to spoil the beautiful wholesome works of God. There is always a struggle to maintain the truth.
Jesus said “If you love me you will keep my commandments” Obedience to the truths of the gospel.
Christian unity is unity in truth and love. There is a balance here, but one cannot be used to suppress or trump the other – it is not an either/or situation.
Sadly we are no longer able to ignore the tensions and divisions which exist in the global Anglican Communion. Within the time limits of this sermon it is impossible to discuss how we arrived at this state, and the interwoven arguments and reactions.
But it is no longer possible to “keep up the appearances of unity” as some couples try publically in a failing marriage where separation and divorce over incompatibility loom large. True, the Anglican Communion will not split in the near future, but in the minds of many Primates, both liberal and traditional orthodox, after their meeting and dialogue in Alexandria (Feb 2009) we have two irreconcilable religions co-existing in the same communion (Bishop of Rochester, England, Michael Nazir Ali) : even “two churches with two hearts and two minds” (Bishop of Egypt, Mouneer Anis)
There is a sense that the Communion is fractured beyond repair, despite the attempts at dialogue ( but that in some ways could be seen as a delaying tactic to avoid taking real decisions ).
Alternatively the “fabric of the communion is torn”. But not wholly torn, nor even down the middle ! Just a corner is in danger of coming detached.
Most of the Anglican global communion is alive and thriving, is mission-minded and spiritually vibrant in a way that the C of E and TEC etc are not. Of the 50-55 million active Anglicans worldwide at least 40-45 million hold to an orthodox faith that submits to the bible as a rule in matters of faith and morality. It is the North American and British Anglicans, numerically a “small corner”, who are torn down the middle.
A complication is that the financial power and influence of this “small corner” is being exerted disproportionately for ideological ends in influencing the Instruments of unity in the Anglican Church ( Archbishop of Canterbury, Ang Communion Office with the Ang Consultative Council, the Lambeth Conference, and the Anglican Primates )
The issue of acceptance and welcoming of homosexuality as normal and the blessing of same sex “unions” by the North American church ( TEC + Canada), seen by some as a “secondary issue” not meriting separation over, is but a symptom.
A symptom of a deeper, wider cleavage regarding the status of biblical authority and catholic orthodoxy.
On the liberal side, an excessive trend to a liberal Protestantism, highlighting the supremacy of the isolated individual to judge truth, and a post-modernist relativism ( “my truth is as valid as your truth”, even if contradictory ) have led to a clear and unashamed departure from orthodox beliefs and morality.
Archbishop Katherine Schori (TEC) can quite happily declare that Jesus is not the unique Saviour . Retired Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, can still celebrate the Eucharist whilst declaring himself an agnostic – uncertain whether there is even a God, least of all a Son of God. A prominent theological seminary Dean can express the view that “abortion is a blessing from God”, and so on ….. !
Unity can only exist in the truth of Christ. An inclusiveness that wishes to incorporate no matter what belief ( ie theologically indifferent since “all are right” ) is not built on the apostolic foundation, neither is it “catholic” (corresponding closely with the ancient and universal consensus).
Oscar Wilde “Morality, like Art, means drawing a line someplace” !
To politely ignore the differences, a typically English attitude to avoid open confrontation as “distasteful” and vulgar, and thus avoiding any choices or of distinguishing truth from error, , is to be uncaring about the truth.
It also offends, and rightly so, other Christian churches like the Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, the Baptists, who attempt to adhere to the apostolic faith and try honestly to distinguish truth from falsehood using Scripture, the Creeds, Confessions, and various formularies akin to our Anglican BCP. The cause of real worldwide ecumenism is greatly hindered – and this is a sinful thing !
The fact that all continue apparently to follow similar, if not identical, liturgies does not make a united church (since in many cases old meanings have been substituted for radically different interpretations ) – nor does belonging in name to the same church as institution.
Unity must be in mind and intent, spiritual and confessional, for the fellowship of “oneness in diversity” to be experienced : and more importantly that the mission of the church globally to share the good news of Jesus Christ should be commended by the beauty of such unity as a fragrant perfume and as refreshing water to a tired harassed world.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity”
St Augustine : In essentials, unity In non-essentials, diversity In all things, charity
