Unity in the Church is a valuable asset that brings people together. It provides a shared understanding of the Word, an opportunity to learn together, and a way to covenant with one another and God.
But what are the visible bonds of unity in the church? How do we know whether or not our church is united?
The visible bonds of unity in the church include: 1) the holding of a common belief system, 2) the practice of this belief system, and 3) maintaining an organized communication mechanism for all members.
When these things are missing or invalid, then there is no unity in the church. There are many reasons why a particular congregation does not have an organized belief system, practice, or communication mechanism. These can be issues that require attention from outside of the community, such as prayer and recognition of different perspectives.
Contents:
The sacraments
The visible bond of unity in the church is through the sacraments. These are rites or ceremonies that are used to convey a message or effect change in someone else.
Through these sacraments, we are made into one body, a new family united in Christ. Through these ceremonies we learn our relationship with our Savior and each other as well as others in our community.
Many people do not understand the true meaning and power of these sacraments although they are observed and accepted by many. When a person is baptized, confirmed, or married in the wrong circumstances or with wrong partners, then the power of the sacrament is lost.
This can cause people to walk away from God because they did not receive what they wanted to receive from it. It can also lead to sin due to assuming appearances that do not belong to them.
The apostolic governance
There are many ways to govern the body of Christ. We can look at the many strata of leadership in the church, such as episcopal, presbyteral, moderator, and catechetical. Each has a different style and responsibilities.
The catechetical leadership is responsible for instructing members on various topics and offering them guidance on how to apply what they’ve learned in their lives. The moderator works with other leaders to facilitate communication and cooperation.
Moderators typically work with elders to help help them lead their flock in God’s Word and life. They are also responsible for helping people get through ministry orientation without a formal assignment.
The catechumen does not receive an assignment until they have been baptized into the faith. This role is typically played by an individual who has some knowledge of the Bible but not necessarily in an official setting.
The communion of saints
The word communion of saints comes from the Greek koinonia of the New Testament. It refers to the gathering together of people who have a similar faith.
In the New Testament, believers are called to be with one another in Christ, but also to respect each other’s differences in faith. This is referred to as yoked unity or communion of saints.
It is a concept described in 1 Corinthians 12:13-16, where we are told that we are to share the same food and drink, clothing and entertainment, worship and relaxation. As Christians, we belong together and belong with one another.
This concept goes beyond just Christian communities; any place where people gather for any reason or just to enjoy each other’s company is a sightfeldenly. Even church has seen its layout change due to tech trends and needs!
When there is an increase in different things being done, there is more visible unity in the church.
The corporal works of mercy
The visible bonds of unity in the church are called corporal works of mercy. These include helping others with food and shelter, medical care, and spiritual assistance.
Works of mercy were a central concept of Christianity until very recently. During the Middle Ages, Christian conscience forbade many acts now considered acceptable in modern society.
By asking individuals to help others during religious services, there was a precedent for an individual to feel good about themselves and their actions and receive forgiveness. This is what lead people to believe that doing works of mercy is something you can do if you are Christian.
Today, works of mercy are encouraged at every level of society. Every year on Good Friday, several churches around the world offer baskets of food or money toward someone in need. On these same days, soldiers in uniform carry out regular aid work on the front lines.
The spiritual works of mercy
The visible bonds of unity in the church are the many different Christian denominations that exist today. These divisions are higher in nature than church unity, but when present, they contribute to the experience of God.
By making a concentrated effort to attend worship services at different times, you will find that there is much more to God’s kingdom than just a religion. You will also find that there are many different views about what that religion should be, which is another thing worth thinking about.
At times, there may be tension and differences within churches, which is not just a good example of what God is like, but also an example for us all. When these differences are respected and acknowledged, it creates a stronger community that serves both their individual needs and wants, as well as the needs and wants of society as a whole.
Humility
A characteristic noticeable in the unity bullet points is the emphasis on humility. When people of all kinds, walks, talks, and minister are full of pride, God will remove His anointing from them and cast it on others in order to demonstrate His love for them.
This is not a characteristic that should be lacking in the church. Instead, people of God should be more conscious of their own worth and what they need to improve on.
They should also be more willing to accept help from others rather than being proud that they can handle themselves well. People with high self-esteem often feel like they are good enough on their own but seeing others needing help makes them feel less vulnerable and less like they are insignifigant.
When people of all walks of life show humility, it creates a climate where others can learn from and respect them. It also helps build relationships which are important in the church today.
The Church seeks after the moral integrity of her members
The Church seeks after the moral integrity of her members. This is accomplished through her Code of Ethics, her pastoral guidelines, and her teachings.
TheCodeofEthicsis a set of guidelines that describe what a member of the Church should do and not do as a member of the church. It describes what lying, stealing, adultery, drug use, profanity, drunkenness, neglecting the poor and gospel principles among other things is like for a member of the church.
Pastoral guidelines describe what situations or actions are outside of the norms for members in general but are still Mormon standards. For example, one prominent example isithingbodyshapewhichstatesthatafter sex it should be washed with water and prayer but also adds that if it happens then members need to dress in public as if they were having sex in public which is unusual but not every day practice.
Conversion and repentance
The visible bonds of unity in the church are repentance and conversion. Both repentance and conversion are necessary steps in being a member of the Christian community.
Repentance is the conscious decision to change your behavior in response to sin. It is the first step in becoming a member of the Christian community.
Conversion is the process by which a person becomes aware of their sinfulness and joins the church at a later time. People who do not convert at an early stage may remain members of the church for generations, since they do not leave a clear mark of repentance.
It is important to note that being repentant does not mean you have converted! Repentance does not necessarily mean new behaviors or attitudes toward sin are put into place!
We all need to repent, but many simply put it off until after they have children or another serious life change.