THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

By Terry Swift

This is the third book by the author. This book, The Unity of the Holy Spirit, is very unique in the author’s approach. He uses what he observes in 1 John to discover a key to recognizing and achieving unity and fellowship. That key in 1 John revolves around “all or none” type statements. What do those statements tell us? Like John’s theme in his letter, it answers the question – “How do you know you have fellowship with the Father and with the Son?” These “all or none” statements of John tell us one is either “in or they are out,” “in fellowship or not,” “you know God or you do not,” “you are saved or you are not.” In the statements of John, there is no middle ground. For example, John says “Except you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” He says – “He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” This author proposes these various “all or none” type statements throughout the New Testament are the basis of what Christians must agree on. These statements are revealed truth that we must stand on. There is no compromise with these and be a Christian.
The author also addresses “issues” that divide churches. He proposes that we do not have to agree on “disputable matters,” Rom.14:1. These “issues”, though they have divided Christians for hundreds of years into over four hundred denominations, are not necessary to divide over, and it destroys the unity and effectiveness of Christians. These disputable “issues” that Paul speaks of and many more the churches divide over are a matter of individual growth and understanding in one’s Christian journey of faith. We should not “Lord it over another’s faith.” “To his master he stands or falls.” We all need time to grow and understand things throughout life. Some of these “issues” can be very serious, and sometimes can rise to the level of a need for church discipline. But, for the most part, we should not stand as judges over our brothers because we disagree over an issue. Nor should we part ways. Christians are to help each other, be patient with each other and longsuffering.
Finally, there are several chapters in the book that address several aspects of unity - the attitudes and qualities that help produce unity, those who cause disunity, approaches to unity, and what is true unity and what is not. These and more are topics addressed in the book. The book is written to give churches a practical and scriptural way to approach unity. It is very different from the many creeds, church rules, and traditions that are offered as the approach to unity of churches. Churches offer a very legalistic approach that demands conformity to their beliefs to be a member, to teach or to lead in their church. Such an approach demands conformity to a particular denomination’s views and following their creeds, rather than allowing the Spirit to help the individual Christian grow and learn God's will. The growth and beliefs of individual Christians have been hi-jacked by the various well-meaning but biased denominations.
This new book is very challenging to the traditions and approaches of denominations. Unity is not realized by them. They are divisions of believers that cannot fellowship each other, nor can they work together. It is time for a fresh look in how to bring Christians back together and how to work together. This is the book for those who want true unity with our brothers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9781489750303

Terry Swift

Terry L. Swift is 69 years old. He lives in San Marcos Texas with his special and wonderful wife Kathy. Both he and his wife are RN’s and have been practicing in the medical field taking care of patients for over 30 years. They have 3 grown children: Jeremy, Libby, and Becky and each of them are married with wonderful spouses. Terry and Kathy have seven wonderful grandchildren.

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 Terry Swift.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-5031-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-5030-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024904433

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 02/28/2024

CONTENTS

Chapter 1  Unity Experienced

Chapter 2  False Notions And Experience Of Unity

Chapter 3  Putting It Together – Basic Essentials

Chapter 4  Church Laws, Rules, Traditions, And Expectations

Chapter 5  Giftedness, Motivations, And Ministries

Chapter 6  Judgments, Perceptions, Moods, And Feelings

Chapter 7  Gender Roles, Characteristics And Unity

Chapter 8  Church Discipline

Chapter 9  Disputable Matters And Doctrinal Issues

Chapter 10  What About False Teachers?

Chapter 11  Those Who Promote Disunity

Chapter 12  The Elements Of Unity, Eph. 4

Chapter 13  Seeking The Character Of Christ

Chapter 14  Two Approaches – Knowledge Or Love?

40917.png

CHAPTER 1

UNITY EXPERIENCED

Unity. We all have enjoyed the experiences of unity with someone and in some group. We can talk freely, let our guard down and reach out safely to others. Unity means we know we are accepted, valued, a part of the whole. When we are unified, we feel supported and a sense of belonging. We experience friendship and fellowship. We enjoy the company of the ones we are with. We identify with the others around us and feel comfortable to be with them. We all need these experiences and kind of support in our lives. We need a foundation with other people, a base from which to be nurtured, and to return to in order to be nurtured again. We need stability and support in our lives.

SEEKING UNITY IN A FAMILY, LOCAL

Family is the basic unit for experiencing unity and support. The more a family can function in unity and love, the more a child can grow up healthy and emotionally whole. Unity in a family cannot just be understood in terms of each member being the same, thinking the same, acting the same. Unity is an attitude that cloaks the entire family in an attitude of caring for one another as we are. It is valuing how each is different and seeing the differences as a means of endearment and specialness. It is supporting one another in growth and understanding all the while knowing we are different. Parents, after being married awhile discover they are different in many ways – their humor, some values, their outlooks on various things. Yet, they can remain unified in love and remain protective of one another. Or sadly, they can divorce for incompatible differences, not knowing or understanding how to be unified and happy. Those who divorce do not understand how unity operates or what it is based upon. It is not based on being alike. Parents who have had several children have learned that each child is different, in personality, in how they respond to things, in what they pursue. A wise parent values each child in the unique way that they are made - who they are from birth. Each child is viewed and treated according to his or her special bent in life. Unity and getting along does not depend on a parent and child being alike or thinking alike. It depends upon each valuing the special uniqueness of the individual and loving them. A parent must realize the special potential and unique giftedness that a child has. Each child is very different in the characteristics they may possess. A parent must work with a child who is very different and learn who they are. Unity is not being alike, but working toward the common goal of each individual’s potential in the structure of who they are and were born to be.

SEEKING UNITY IN A FAMILY, EVEN BLENDED FAMILIES AND MIXED INTERNATIONALLY

The purpose of discussing the family is to help us realize, unity is maintaining the goal of seeking the greater good of all in the unique way they are designed. Unity is found in our purpose and goal for one another, not that we are just alike. It is natural to identify with, and seek out those who think like ourselves and agree with us. Birds of a feather do flock together. Those like us offer less occasion for disagreements and conflicts. Those like ourselves seem to agree with our values and our viewpoints and support us in them. We are comfortable with them and can enjoy the accepted statue quo. We have less disagreement and drama with those like ourselves. We perceive that all is better off and well.

DENOMINATIONAL DIVISIONS

The word Denomination means division. Because of worldliness that comes into the church, we will always have divisions in this life, and divisions in the church. It is the fleshly consequence of disagreements and quarreling. But woe to him by whom division comes. Woe to those who participate in these divisions and perpetuate division. Woe to those who readily accept these divides between us. We must never think that the different denominations are different divisions or parts of the same body of Christ. They are not. These divisions were made by man. These divisions represent and are the consequence of worldly pride, stubbornness, and self-seeking behaviors. Though there are believers in the various denominational churches, the denominations themselves are not representing the UNITY for which Christ prayed for in John 17. The denominations are not the FAMILY for which Christ died. His family is spiritual. His family is of the the same mind and same judgment. That does not mean that they all think alike. Christ’s family is united in the same pursuits, all of which are to please the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit. The unity is found through the indwelling Spirit of the Christian. The Spirit produces unity. We endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit by following him. The earthly denominations do not in themselves represent that spiritual body of believers. They represent the divisions of man. The divisions were created by man. There can be believers found in a denomination who have not yet found their way out of that divisive sect. Are denominations, or manmade divisions, what God wants us to be? Of course not. Is following a denomination or division Jesus’ path, the path God has chosen for us? Of course not. Do we want to be a part of a division and be a part of its divide? Consider this –

1. Denominations were set up by people dividing away from people.

Historically, the start of the different denominations can be traced to the man who started that denomination in the midst of quarreling and division. It represented man following man and his differences and ideas. Here are examples –

a. Seventh Day Adventist – founder, William Miller.

b. Assembly of God – from a movement in 1906-7.

c. Baptists – began in America with Roger Williams in the mid 1600’s. It was founded in Europe by John Smyth in 1612.

d. Methodist – John and Charles Wesley

e. Church of Christ Scientist – Mary Baker Eddy in 1879.

f. Episcopalians – began as a quarrel between King Henry the VIII of the "church of England and the Pope.

g. Evangelicals – were established in 1934 in Cleveland Ohio as a result of two denominations

h. Quakers – founded in 1624 by George Fox.

i. Jehovah Witness – by Charles Taz Russel around the 1870’s started a new cult.

j. Mormons – Joseph Smith in 1829 started a new cult.

k. Lutherans – indirectly by those who followed Martin Luther, 1517, who broke with the Catholic church.

The list goes on and on. The various denominations had their start through a man or group of men. They established their brand of truth in the distant past, and continue to seriously perpetuate their brand of truth up till the very present. They have continued for a few to several hundred years. The divisions, once started, continue on and on. Why? Men continue to follow men and their ideas. They accept the same errors and participate in the same reasoning, and erroneous motives. Consider! They all have their own seminaries and universities, their own professors, their own scholars, and their own curriculum. They pass out literature that promotes their ideas and their own way. They perpetuate their doctrines and creeds from generation to generation. (Yet few stop to think - that they are part of promoting the continued division and separation of believers). Examples of such deep divisions are seen in their various institutions-

1. The California Baptist university, Riverside, Cal.

2. The Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Tx.

3. The Dallas Baptist University, in Dallas, Tx.

4. The California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Cal.

5. Concordia College, Moorhead, Maine

6. Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Wa.

7. Methodist University, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

8. Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tx.

9. St Edward’s University, Austin. Tx. (Catholic)

10. The Catholic University of America, Wash. D.C.

Every denomination has their special institution to spew their doctrine and crank out their especially trained followers.

The list of universities goes on and on for each denomination, (over 400 different divisions and still growing). They have their scholarships, their professors, their books, their authorities.

Then they have their own publishing houses. For example –

1. The Baptist Publishing House, Jacksonville, Tx.

2. Concordia Publishing house and Augsburg Fortress (Lutheran)

3. Gospel Advocate and Sweet Publications (Church of Christ)

4. College Press (Christian church)

The list goes on and on for each denomination. They have their own approved books, their own movie producers, their own missionaries, etc.

The point is THEY ARE SET UP TO PERPETUATE THEIR DIVISION for many generations to come. Division has been thoroughly established for future times. Some claim that they accept others in other denominations. But you do not see Baptists congregations going over to fellowship Lutheran congregations or Catholics going to see the Jehovah Witnesses, or even the Church of Christ going to worship with the Christian church? No, they split off from them. Every one perpetuates his own camp, his own division. All justify their divisions over doctrines. Is it right? Is the Holy Spirit the author of such confusion, 1 Cor.14:33? Do we please God with our arrogance and division? Is this what Jesus started his family for? That everyone could seek his own way and not the Way, mentioned at least eight times in the book of Acts? Are we content to be in our own denomination because it fits with how we were raised, or fits our own biases? Birds of a feather flock together, don’t they? Division breeds division, and on and on. Strife breeds more strife. Must we divide every time we disagree? Does not Paul say our division demonstrates we are still worldly, 1 Cor. 3:1-2? Are we just being a part of the perpetuating problem of division? Should we remain in our own division (that is -denomination) and support their divide? Again, I ask – Is this what God wants of us? Are we pleasing to him to divide from others to make ourselves comfortable in our own sect? Do we justify ourselves in our own eyes? Do we feel right or even better than others because of where we are – in our denomination, in the right church?

Is division fleshly? Absolutely. Yet, we