Calvin on the Church (2)
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17.20, 21
It is difficult to overestimate the importance Jesus placed on our being one in Him. According to Jesus, the effectiveness of our witness to the world depends on our reflecting the loving Oneness of God the Trinity by our being one together—“all may be one”. In each church and in all churches together.
John Calvin understood the importance of Christians being one Body: “But all the elect are so united in Christ that as they are dependent on one Head, they also grow together into one body, being joined and knitted together as are the limbs of a body. They are made truly one since they live together in one faith, hope, and love, and in the same Spirit of God.” We are united so we should work to reify that unity. We have one Head, so we should grow together into Him, into more Christlikeness as believers, congregations, and churches together. Calvin believed this, and he labored long and hard to keep the churches in Geneva together and to establish some rapport of faith with Lutherans and Catholics.
Oneness is a sure way of identifying a healthy church. When members confess the same faith, share their lives with one another, press on and encourage one another to increase in the knowledge of God and fruitfulness in Christ, then they are beginning to realize their purpose as the Church.
This doesn’t just happen, however. It takes hard work to achieve and maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4.3). Pastors and teachers must equip church members for unity (Eph. 4.11-13). And Bible-believing churches in a community, if they would work hard to maintain some visible unity together—of communication, prayer, worship, or community service—would be in a better position to cash in on Jesus’ promise that the world would believe that God had sent Him.
Can our individual preferences or traditions, our disagreements about this, that, and the other, and our packed agendas of programs and activities be more important than working hard to maintain our unity in Christ? Jesus prayed that we would be one. We know what His will is in the matter. Are we seeking His will or do we prefer the easier route of continuing disunity?
Resources for being and making disciples
Pastor to Pastor Podcast: Being a shepherd of God’s flock is important. Pastors have a high calling, and they are important. But they’re also, as Jesse Slusher reminds us, sheep like everyone else. Click the tab at the top of this installment of Pastor to Pastor to listen in on this week’s Pastor to Pastor Podcast.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision column we are learning how to know the Presence of the Lord. Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from The Disciplined Life. Our Crosfigell teaching letter has launched a new series on “Exalted High Sower”, the great poem by Colum Cille. The InVerse Theology podcast features part 6 of our series on drift and disunity in the Christian movement. And in our daily Scriptorium column we will work our way through Colossians 2. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
The Ailbe Bookstore: We are currently holding a clearance sale in The Ailbe Bookstore. Everything must go, and we’re offering all our selections for the cost of shipping only. Also at the bookstore, to learn more about why Christians are so divided, order a copy of our book, Absimilation: Drift and Disunity in the Christian Movement, or download a free PDF of the book.
Resources for Shepherds: This fall The Fellowship of Ailbe will offer six study opportunities for men of the church. Meeting for one hour, every other week, these groups can enrich your walk with and work for the Lord and lead you to discover some new friends:
The Lewis Group—T. M. Moore and Charlie Hammett:
Surprised by Joy (order from your preferred bookseller)
The Edwards Group—T. M. Moore and Dick Wilder (all readings supplied at no charge):
“The Christian Pilgrim”
“The Preciousness of Time”
“A Divine and Supernatural Light”
Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God
Praying with the Psalms (continued)—T. M. Moore and David Timbie (free PDF here, or free book here)
David Timbie and T. M. Moore, Praying with the Psalms
The Writers’ Group (continued)—T. M. Moore:
Corey Latta, C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing (order a copy from your preferred bookseller)
The Men’s Study—T. M. Moore (resources provided at no charge):
T. M. Moore, Strong Souls: The Inside-Out Secret of the Christian Life
Christian Classics for Discipleship—T. M. Moore
. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism (provided in free PDF)
The complete schedule and a registration form are available at our website. I hope to see many of you in one or more of our studies.
From the Celtic Revival
Altus Prosator by Colum Cille (d. 597)
Who can please God in the last time,
when the noble rules of truth have all been changed
except for those who scorn the present world?[1]
– Colum Cille, Altus Prosator
In every age and place the Gospel has made inroads, theologians have resorted to poetic forms to share their deepest thoughts and most abiding truths.
Perhaps inspired by the example of the Word of God—more than one-third of which is written in poetry—Christian thinkers have elected to employ the powers of meter, rhyme, and image to engage, not just the minds of readers, but their hearts as well. And the results can be most satisfying, though beyond their place and time, alas, they largely go ignored.
But in their day, their poetic works astonished, pleased, provoked, and challenged readers to consider God and all His will compactly, vividly, and in ways calculated to lead them to increase devotion to the Lord.
Even when conditions seemed least favorable, and the times most unlikely, theologians turned to verse. Among these, Colum Cille (521-597) stands out as, if not the most prolific, yet a poet of considerable power and unparalleled scope, of themes most lofty and expansive, and of verse that unifies creation and divine intention with sublime effects.
You can read this installment in our series on Colum Cille’s great poem by clicking here.
Subscribe to Crosfigell and every Tuesday and Thursday receive insights and teaching from the Celtic Revival. Scroll to the bottom of the home page, www.ailbe.org to sign up.
Resources from the Celtic Revival: Columbanus
The great saints of the Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800) call us to keep our focus on Jesus. Our book, Be Thou My Vision, provides insights and encouragement on seeing Jesus daily. Order your copy of this 28-day devotional study by clicking here.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this issue of Pastor to Pastor helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Support for Pastor to Pastor comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] All translations of Altus Prosator are from John Carey, ed. and tr., King of Mysteries (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1998), pp. 29-50.
