UNITY AND THE JUDGMENT
Victor Knowles 

"After all is said and done, more is said than done."

Wise words, those. And very painful as well. The truth hurts. But we need the truth. The truth will make us free.

The quote that we began with is particularly true when it comes to our words and action concerning Christian unity. We all know that religious division is contrary to God's plan (I Cor. 1:10). We are aware that the unity of all believers everywhere is what our Lord prayed for (John 17:20, 21). But after all is said and done, more is said than done! We talk a good game but play it rather poorly. Not that noble efforts have not and are not being made by some to bridge the gap between estranged brethren in Christ.

Since August of 1984 five national meetings between leaders of Churches of Christ (non-instrumental) and Churches of Christ and Christian Churches (instrumental) have taken place. Hundreds of brethren have met for prayer, study, and discussion at Joplin, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Malibu, California; Milligan College, Tennessee; and Cincinnati, Ohio. Another "Restoration Forum" is planned for May of 1988. Several regional and local "grassroots" efforts have also taken place across the nation. A new periodical reporting these meetings, One Body, has been launched by Don DeWelt of Joplin, Missouri.

But by and large, many brethren are content to just talk about unity. An old black preacher sagaciously observed, "Ev'rybody talkin' 'bout hebbin ain't gwine there." The same is true concerning Christian unity. How can we do more than just talk about unity? It is imperative that we do more than just talk because the apostle John urges us to love in deed and truth and not just in word and tongue (I John 3:18).

One thing that would help motivate us into greater action is to contemplate what will happen after all is said and done—period! We are mortal beings. We have an appointed end. But the end is not really the end. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (11eb. 9:27). All of us are going to die. All of us are going to stand in the judgment. What then?

It will be too late then to sort things out and work for the unity God intended (Eph. 4:4-6). It will be too late to answer Christ's great prayer for unity (John 17). It will be too late then to heed the apostle's admonitions for Christian unity (Phil. 3:16). This should sober us up as nothing else can. "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more"-what then? If we aren't answering God's roll call down here, how can we answer it up there? This is serious business!

The Bible clearly teaches that "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:10). That means every one of us. But we will not stand before God collectively. We will not stand as a brotherhood or even as a congregation. We will not stand as a group of preachers or editors. "Each of us." says Paul, "shall give an account of himself to God" (Rom.l4:l2).

What does this have to do with working for the unity of all believers? Much! Isn't it significant that the passages of scripture we've cited concerning the judgment (Rom 14:10-12) are found right in the heart of a chapter that deals with the matter of brethren who are judging each other. God wanted these brethren to settle their differences before the final judgment. Paul begins this chapter by telling them not to reject each other over disputable matters (Rom. 14:1). He instructs them not to despise each other or judge each other (Rom. 14:2,3). He asks them, "Why do you judge your brother?" (Rom. 14:10). It is in this context that the apostle then gives his oft-quoted teaching on the judgment seat of Christ

It is extremely important that we settle up with each other before God settles up with us. Doesn't that make sense? Some day you and I are going to stand in the judgment and give an account of the way we treated (or mistreated or failed to treat) our brothers in Christ-brethren for whom Christ died (Rom. 14:9). What am I going to say for myself if I have made no attempt to receive one of God's children as my brethren? Worse yet, what will I say if I have been so foolish as to reject and judge a brother for whom Christ dies? Even more horrible to contemplate, what is God going to say to me for my boorish behavior?

Let's be wise enough to take a long look at this matter of Christian unity. This is not a petty, peripheral issue. We're talking life and death, righteousness and judgment, heaven and hell. Nothing could be more vital or serious. But let's go beyond words. Let's enter into the real world and start doing something about our dreadful state of division. Work for the unity for which our dear Lord lived and died.

What can you do today for the cause of Christian unity? Work for unity in your local congregation. Be a peacemaker. Visit your brethren across town whenever you can. Invite someone over for dinner. Take someone out for lunch. Pray together. Study together. Talk. Listen. Ask questions. Be respectful. Be humble. Be compassionate. Be hopeful.

Above all remember that "we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ" After all is said and done, that's the way it is going to be. God has already received us (Rom. 14:3). Christ has already received us to the glory of God (Rom. 15:7). Let's receive each other now so we can both be received in the judgment.  — Victor Knowles is editor of One Body and a participant in the Restoration Forums, 125 E. Fairview, Carthage, MO 64836.

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Though not agreeing at all, with some of their opinions and practices, I nevertheless preach amongst all, having seen for many years how greatly the heart of the Lord Jesus must be grieved by the dis-union that exists among His own true disciples. On this account, therefore, I have sought (in my feeble measure) to unite all real believers; but, as this cannot be done, by standing aloof from our brethren in Christ, until they see eye to eye with us. in every point, I have gone amongst them, and have united with them. insofar as nothing has been required of me which I could not do with a good conscience. —George Muller