This is Tim Olson's blog - to write about my personal life, my spiritual life, to help people think, to write about youth group, to write about Church - just a journal. Hopefully friends will be able to keep up with me and my life a bit better this way - and I'd love a comment now and then. Soli Deo Gloria.
Ephesians 4 speaks of the unity of the Spirit in verse 3; unity in (or "of" - ESV) the faith in verse 13. What is "unity in the faith"? What does it look like practically? What doesn't it mean - and why?
Labels: Ephesians 4, Unity
posted by Tim @ 2:11 PM
3 comments
I was born in 1973 in Zaire, Africa. My parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents on my mom’s side were all missionaries with the Evangelical Free Church in Zaire. I graduated from boarding school in Zaire (Ubangi Academy) in 1991 and went to Moody Bible Institute. I spent my summers working at Hidden Acres, the Evangelical Free Church camp in Iowa and it was there I met my lovely and gracious wife, Lori (though we didn’t fall in love there). I received a B.A. in Youth Ministry from Moody and spent over 5 years in an Independent Baptist Church in rural Michigan. I left there at God’s call in 2002 to serve at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Eagle Grove, Iowa, as the Youth Pastor. I have an incredible son, Benjamin, and a beautiful daughter, Elise. My wife is a huge part of our ministry with the youth. I am currently pursuing (slowly) a Master of Arts and Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary through their virtual campus (distance education). My passions are for the glory of God, my family, guitar, volleyball, sports in general, and students. Though the future is unclear, I believe God has called me to “full-time” ministry.
3 Comments:
Well to pick up the EFCA's mantra:
In the essentials, unity
In the non-essentials, charity
In all things, Jesus Christ.
It isn't unity at the expense of truth. It doesn't mean peace at any cost. What it does mean is to be charitable with those around you who hold a different biblical position on a minor piece of doctrine or a difference in how scripture is applied.
I also think that Philippians 2:1-11 is a great picture of unity and how it requires humility.
Off the top of my head anyway. I hope that helps.
We are told that through our spiritual gifts we might be built up until we all reach unity in the faith... - how have we not reached it yet? What does it look like?
Hmmm. I do like the E. Free's mantra quite a bit.
I've been in plenty of churches that equated unity with unanimity. This is, unfortunately, a devastating lie. I think it's important for all believers, but especially teachers and pastors, to speak candidly about why unity is NOT unanimity, and, as you have begun to do, to examine what true unity really looks like.
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