This excerpt comes from a letter written to Uriah Smith in 1892. It strongly states the case for unity as well as the cause of disunity.—Dan
"We are to strive by every power of our being to come into harmony with our brethren, because Christ has prayed that His disciples might be one as He and the Father are one."
There is but one Scriptural way in which to deal with men when they introduce unsafe doctrines, and it has been enjoined upon the church by the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to strive by every power of our being to come into harmony with our brethren, because Christ has prayed that His disciples might be one as He and the Father are one. When we follow the injunction of Christ, cooperating with Him so as to bring about a condition among us that will answer the prayer of Christ, then we are doing the will of God; but when we disregard those rules that when followed will prevent discord and alienation, we scatter from Christ. – {1888 1044.1}
Matters of disunion have been managed in a reckless way, and as a result the church has become weak, and that love that should exist between brethren has died out of the heart. There has been so much pride of heart and stubbornness of will among those who professed to be the followers of Christ, that He has been dishonored. Shall not self be crucified? Shall not Christ abide in the heart by living faith? Oh, that God would imbue His church with His Holy Spirit; but He cannot do this without the cooperation of the church. He who would have the Lord work for him, must yield his will wholly to the will of God. He must become as a little child. It is impossible to do this unless the heart is yielded to God. – {1888 1044.2}
"When the people of God are one with Him, they will be one with each other. Their unity and love will testify to the genuineness of their union with Christ."
When the people of God are one with Him, they will be one with each other. Their unity and love will testify to the genuineness of their union with Christ. When their eyes are all fixed upon Christ, their hearts will be united in love. They will then stand shoulder to shoulder to resist the confederacy of evil, and they will have strength for a battle that cannot be seen by the natural eye. They will stay their hearts upon the Lord, saying, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” [Isaiah 9:6]. – {1888 1046.3} ...
Since God has so loved us, we ought also to love one another. How much? Jesus said, “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another” [John 15:12-15].
Here we have a decided, positive command. We would ask, Who are doers of these words? Oh, that God may impart to His poor, needy children His Holy Spirit of love, that the prayer of Christ may be fulfilled in His people, and we all may be one as He is in the Father and the Father in Him. – {1888 1047.2
What attainments are there presented for the Christian’s endeavor, but how far short are our practices. Were our practices in harmony with the command of our Lord, the result would be glorious. He says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved Me” [John 17:20-23]. – {1888 1048.1}
"Jesus did not pray for that which was not attainable by us, and if this unity is possible, why do not those who are professed followers of Christ strive more earnestly for this condition of grace? When we are one with Christ, we shall be one with His followers."
Jesus did not pray for that which was not attainable by us, and if this unity is possible, why do not those who are professed followers of Christ strive more earnestly for this condition of grace? When we are one with Christ, we shall be one with His followers. The great want of the soul is Jesus, the hope of glory. Through the Holy Spirit this unity may be attained, and love for the brethren will abound, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Our life will be a reflection of His holy character. As believers in Him we shall represent His meekness of spirit, His gentleness of demeanor. Individually the church of God must answer the prayer of Christ till we all come into the unity of the Spirit. – {1888 1048.2}
"What is it that causes dissension and discord? It is the result of walking apart from Christ. At a distance from Him, we lose our love for Him, and grow cold toward His followers."
"You cannot love God and yet fail to love your brethren."
What is it that causes dissension and discord? It is the result of walking apart from Christ. At a distance from Him, we lose our love for Him, and grow cold toward His followers. The farther the beams of light recede from their center, the wider separated they become. Each believer is as a beam of light from Christ the Sun of righteousness. The more closely we walk with Christ, the center of all love and light, the greater will be our affection for His light-bearers. When the saints are drawn close to Christ, they must of necessity be drawn close to each other, for the sanctifying grace of Christ will bind their hearts together. You cannot love God and yet fail to love your brethren. – {1888 1048.3}
Dear brother, I have written thus to you that you may stand in the confidence and love of the people of God, and that no one may be uncertain as to where you do stand. The mystic chain of love must bind the followers of Christ heart to heart. When Jesus was about to be crucified, Herod and Pilate, enemies before, became friends, and were united in a corrupt harmony over the condemnation of our Lord; and shall not those who claim to love our Lord Jesus Christ be constrained by the divine principle of love? Shall not all heart-burnings, alienations, and estrangements be forever expelled from the soul, and antipathies be overcome, through the grace of Christ? – {1888 1049.1}
Does not Christ see enough in us of perversity and crookedness to warrant His withdrawing of His love from us? But as He does not separate His love from us, shall we not draw more closely to our divine Center, and through His gracious mercy draw closer together? Let us form a holy alliance to exalt the Son of God before the world. If the enemies became united through their hatred of Jesus, shall not we who profess His name unite in Him? Standing under the cross of Calvary, looking upon Him who has manifested unparalleled love to man, should not all jealousies, all bitterness, wrath, and malice cease? Should not all evil-speaking and evil thinking be done away? – {1888 1049.2}—Mrs. Ellen G. White
A Study Guide On Christian Unity