There is No "I" in Christianity (Part 3)

Do you know why some churches lack unity?  Because they have too many “I’s.”  Yet, there should be no “I” in Christianity.  Paul tells us:

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2, New American Standard). 

There is an “us” but there must not be an “I.”  In part 2, we have discovered that we have allowed our own ideas infiltrate our relationship with Christ.  In this particular passage of Scripture, we discover that there is no room for individualism.  In this particular portion of his letter to the Philippian church Paul is encouraging them to unity.  We find words such as “fellowship”, “same mind”, “same love”, “united in spirit”, “intent on one purpose” and each one of these words require a departure from individualism. 

                What one purpose are we to be intent on?  As we refer back to chapter one, we find that Paul writes

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27, NASB).

Conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel? So how do we become intent on that?  That is one of the reasons why I love to read Paul’s letters because in many cases he answers those questions for us, including the aforementioned one.  To conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel Paul encourages the Philippian church to stand “firm in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”  Philippians is not the only place where Paul leaves no room for individualism in the body of Christ. 

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.(Ephesians 4:1-6, NASB). 

                I am not advocating a cookie cutter living among churches.  Within the church circle, there are distinct differences of personality.  I strongly believe that God uses each different personality for His glory.  Too many churches split over individualism because they do not like the color of the carpet that the church voted on.  Individualism focuses on what one wants instead of glorifying the Savior.  After all, is that not what our purpose should be?  Individualism takes the focus away from the matters of the heart.  Basically it establishes the standards.  Individualism says “I’m not at fault, you are.” 

It all comes down to one thing.  Individualism does not look at Christ, it looks at self.  Look it up, there is no “I” in Christianity.  In fact, Jesus teaches that there is no “I” in Christianity.

 

Mat 22:34-40

(34)  But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.

(35)  One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,

(36)  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

(37)  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

(38)  "This is the great and foremost commandment.

(39)  "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

(40)  "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."