There is the gospel, and there is the conduct that emanates from that. The point is that Paul does not want there to be a disconnect between your confession and expression.
As far as Paul was concerned, there had to be a difference between how they were before and now because of the gospel.
One spirit
There is one gospel, and it is centered on Christ. And this gospel was what Paul had shared with them. Those who believe the gospel have to be marked by a shared commitment to the scriptures as the inspired word of God.
At that time, there was no written document called the New Testament. (But when Paul said gospel, there was no argument about what he meant.) Now, however, we need to have at least a shared commitment to the Bible.
Paul, in another place, was concerned that a particular church would not be corrupted from the simplicity of the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3), which is about Christ and His finished works, and the life that should reflect the full embodiment of that.
But now we have a book called the Bible. But when men come with what they call revelation, something not clearly said in the bible, what do you think Paul is going to say about it?
Do you think he would accuse such people of corrupting the gospel or would tell them to ride on?
But some bring their own ideas and somehow find themselves in an influential position. Therefore, you cannot judge truth by anything external. We have to judge truth by itself.
Remember, the gospel at its core is about
- How we have been accepted by God because of Jesus
- and come into a new reality in Him by the Holy Spirit, we have been given to live a new life
- and pursue truth and righteousness, with a renewed attitude and mindset founded on that truth.
But what of those who tell you you have to dress in a particular way to be acceptable to God? Do you think Paul would say you should contend against that because it violates the tenet of the simplicity of the gospel? Your answer is as good as mine.
One mind
One spirit is based on one belief in the one Christ, and flows into the same drive and pursuit.
One mind is about the same understanding. And Paul would not be saying this if it came naturally. No. He is saying it because it takes some effort.
It takes a shared commitment first to Christ and the gospel and to one another. And it takes hard work. Paul said those who labor in doctrine should be honored.
Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17:
Why? It takes hard work. But who are those ready to labour in the (boring?) area of word and doctrine?
But I see a limiting factor. Here me out.
Is it one mind and one spirit when it is communicated (even tacitly) that all ministries (gift expressions) must be sanctioned by the pastor and all ministries must be under the auspices of the denomination?
Since we have no recognition of denominations in the scriptures, creating a mindset that says all ministry must be church-based, I believe, would not align with one spirit and one mind.
The bible says one mind and one spirit, not one structure.
A denomination, or church body, is a structure, regardless of its name or mode.
And to say ministry (effort to expand the influence of Christ by spiritual work) has to be within a defined structure becomes a limiting factor for the goal of one mind because the one mind is the mind of Christ, not the mind of whoever is the representative of the denomination.
When a disciple wanted Jesus to silence someone doing ministry but was not in their structure, Jesus said (my words): the tent is wide enough (Mark 9:38-40).
This might be the origin, if I may say so, of people thinking they have to start a church to use their gifts, because they believe all ministry must be church-based.
I am not pushing an antichurch gospel here. Still, the church (and its structural expressions) is not the gospel, and the operation of the gift is not limited to the pulpit on Sunday.
But God has and will continue to give gifts and call people to ministry without respect to our denominational sensibilities. The Spirit moves as He wills, basically (John 3:8).
And it is wrong to think that the only way your gift would be expressed is behind a denominational pulpit.
- One spirit means motivation for the glory of Christ.
- One mind means shared understanding based on the truth of the gospel as espoused by the scriptures.
Again, I am not antagonizing the church gathering, but to say ministry has to be only done when sanctioned by the denomination's church structure would lead to more dissensions.
It's party-spirit (Philips Translation), factions, (work of the flesh), where we say the only valid thing (what God approves) is what is done in our party, even if that party is a major denomination (Galatians 5:19-21).
See what happened with the son of Solomon, Rehoboam (1 Kings 12). The people wanted freedom (and there is freedom in the Spirit[2 Corinthians 3:17]). Still, he refused to give it, hence division, and the breaking off in the nation of Israel.
Let that be a lesson for church leadership not to foster a church structure-first atmosphere when it comes to the expression of people's gifts.
When the foundation of spirituality is submission to a church structure, there would not be an end to the division. Why? Because the Holy Spirit would continue to move men to expand the kingdom of Christ, and with the (mind)set of no ministry except denominational ministry, we would continue to have a multiplicity of structures.
There would be no contending side by side when we are not of one mind and one spirit. We would be contending, but it would be scattered.
I am not advocating for the dissolution of denominations; instead, I am advocating for a democratization of what it means to do ministry, an immersion in the truth of what it means to have liberty in the spirit.
The structural limit to gift expression is antithetical to freedom in the spirit. And we do not see that template in the bible.
Do you understand?
