TEACHING

Daryl Wood

(Daryl is a fivefold teacher on Don Atkin’s apostolic team.)

DO WE AGREE?

"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matt. 18:18, 19)."

With the expansion of the internet has come an influx of "chain" prayer requests, and, not infrequently, the case for their value has been anchored to these Bible verses. While I can appreciate the fact that the intent of the sender is often good-hearted, I believe that a high percentage of the time such a mass-distribution is indicative of some basic misunderstandings surrounding what constitutes true "agreement in prayer."

I’m supposing that the logic in support of chain prayers probably goes something like this: "This personal need is extraordinary. Certainly if we join together in bombarding heaven with enough cries, God’s heart will be moved. In fact, the more people who pray, the more likely He will respond . . . and the more quickly, too!"

Exactly what did Jesus mean when He spoke here of "agreement"? For starters, the contextual placement of these verses shows they have to do with a governmental matter of church discipline for those who refuse to be moved by godly reproof from their brethren (see v. 15-20). I’m not saying that there couldn’t be, or isn’t a wider potential application. I’m just pointing out what surrounds this particular reference regarding agreement. Therefore, whatever we extrapolate as a promise concerning "agreement," in other unlike situations, should be done cautiously.

Second, there is widespread misunderstanding regarding what actually constitutes "agreement." A good many have concluded that if we wing a prayer up to God together and announce an "Amen!" in unison, it’s a done deal. I’m convinced that usually a lot more is required.

The Greek word for "agreement" is sumphoneo, which is the root from which we get our word, "symphony." To obtain the rich, full sound of an orchestra, we need to all be playing harmoniously from the same musical score. Merely being in the same band, and blowing or pounding on our instruments at the same time is no guarantee that we will be in symphony. This fact is apparent enough to most who have attended the average high school band concert. Discord destroys the symphonic sound, both in the natural and in the spiritual sense.

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4: 1-30)."

As a starting point for fellowship with one another, the unity of the Spirit is essential. Unfortunately, unity does not automatically exist because two or more people claim to be Christians. This is true for a couple of reasons. First, not everyone who professes Christ actually knows Him. Second, not everyone who has entered into relationship with Him is presently walking in proper relationship with Him, or with His people. We cannot keep what we do not presently possess. Therefore, for some relationships within church life, the unity of the Spirit has to first be attained before it can be maintained. To assume a unity which is not there, based on a mere profession is naVve, and detrimental to the individual as well as to the corporate expression of Christ.

"Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3)." The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is "No," and yet much of the church behaves in such a way that it is obvious that they believe otherwise. Such a position is shallow and insincere. It also becomes fodder for those on the outside to mock God and His people. At the core of this issue is a lack of discernment as to when and where the unity of the Spirit exists, and when and where it does not. Hand in hand with this error is a lack of commitment to press for the unity of the Spirit with our brethren, regardless of the cost. "Pursue peace with all men, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14)." Often, such a pursuit requires a willingness to confront conflicts directly and in love, rather than ignoring them and hoping that the mere passage of time will resolve relational strains. Pretending we agree does not produce agreement. A passive approach to interpersonal difficulties, contrary to securing unity, actually ensures its disintegration or lack of development. Still, because it is easier in the short run to do so, this is clearly the most popular course that people take in their quest for unity.

It is almost always far more healthy and productive to tactfully bring a relational deficit to the surface than to ignore it. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul identified two individuals who were at odds with each other. "I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord (Phil. 4:2)." The fact that these women were mentioned by name evidences the importance of such resolution. It also suggests that perhaps unresolved conflicts of this nature within the church were a rarity. I wonder how long Paul’s letter would have to be if written to the typical city church today, maintaining the spirit of the book of Philippians!

Confronting issues in the Spirit provides no guarantee of an amicable conclusion. Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over whether to take John Mark with them on a missionary journey grew so sharply contentious that the two apostles eventually had to part ways (see Acts 15:36-40). Since they could not agree, separation was superior to attempting to continue ministering together while striving.

Unity in the Spirit, which translates into heart agreement, is an indispensable prerequisite for two or more people to flow together in ministry. Without it, the sum of the parts is drastically less than the weight of the individual components. With true unity, the multiplier enjoyed is exponential. One can chase a thousand, while two can chase ten thousand. (See Deut. 32:30. While the context of this verse involves the negative aspect of the compounded fear upon the disobedient, the multiplication principle holds in wider application.) This is why Jesus removed detractors from His midst prior to performing some miracles. The mere presence of those who opposed Him in spirit served as a great hindrance in some specific situations. (See Mark 5:35-42.)

It is worth emphasizing that at the most basic level, the unity of the Spirit does not necessarily involve great mental agreement. Years ago, I connected in ministry with a man with whom I enjoyed an uncanny intellectual and theological agreement. It seemed that we processed information the same way, had trod similar paths, and had arrived at the same conclusions on a myriad of Biblical issues. As my relationship with him developed throughout the years, however, it became abundantly clear that we lacked unity in the Spirit. Today I remain estranged from this man, in spite of the fact that we probably continue to share a great many of the same doctrinal positions.

This is not to say that mental agreement is of little or no value. Paul urged the Corinthian church, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment (1 Cor. 1:10)."

Surely there is a quality and dimension of unity that carries to full doctrinal and judgmental consistency. However, this aspect of agreement must follow spiritual unity rather than be the foundational basis for relationship in order for it to be of any real value. Where unity in the Spirit is jealously maintained, it is natural for people to grow together toward the same mind and judgment, as their relationships mature. This more advanced manifestation of unity is referred to as the "unity of the faith." God has promised to continue to use five-fold ministries in the earth until such a time that " . . . we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13)."

Whether in the case of a marriage covenant, ministerial teamwork, or simple fellowship in the Spirit between brothers and sisters, the unity of the Spirit serves as the starting point for relationships within the Body of Christ (horizontal). Of course, this is precluded by a right relationship with the Head (vertical), which is essential in order for the different members of the body to be able to relate to one another properly. Fellowship with others who love God is the natural fruit when one abides in the Vine.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7)."

There comes such a melding of the (singular) horizontal and the (plural) vertical relationships that maintenance aspects of each become intertwined. In this sense, a love for God and a love for His people become circular.

"If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)."

"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now (1 John 2:9)."

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments (1 John 5:2)."

This principle is one reason why Jesus placed such an emphasis on keeping our relationships with others clear and free of offense. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5: 23, 24)."

In summary, the unity of the Spirit cannot be assumed between parties merely because of their professions of faith in Christ. Rather, agreement requires a mutual heart concurrence with Jesus’ lordship, and the subsequent receipt of others who are brothers and sisters in Christ on that basis. Where unity does exist, it is a reality that must be spiritually discerned, and diligently maintained. For this reason it is, in a very real sense, potentially fragile. This means that it should not be taken for granted that "we agree."