Drawing Circles

Dwaine E. Dunning

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          "He drew a circle to shut me out;
               Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout,
          But Love and I had the wit to win 
               We drew a circle and took him in."

     These words have furnished the text for many a sermon or essay on unity. Underlying a philosophy which, admittedly, is a bit too saccharine or "precious" for this writer's taste is a solid grain of truth. There is a circle to which Christian love sets the bounds or circumference, and it has a beauty which far transcends the usual interpretation of the little quatrain.

     'Every human being has a "circle" which does not have to be drawn. It exists in the circle of his friends. Every Christian has a circle which is determined by those whom he recognizes as having "like precious faith" in Jesus Christ. This again does not have to be drawn. It is not a matter of conscious inclusion or exclusion but it is established automatically by the limits of his personal spiritual acquaintance.

     Many of us are becoming deeply concerned for Christian unity. In addition to MISSION MESSENGER, a number of other publications exist which have the unity concern. One of the parts or pieces of the concern so many of us feel is the apparently hopeless nature of the problem we face. How can all of the scattered, distrustful Christians be drawn into a really effective unity?

     Perhaps we are the victims of circumstances and prejudice as we think this way. We don't really need to do so! No one group of Christians in our current scattered situation is ever going to draw even itself together in a recognizable entity which can be enumerated, measured, or otherwise calculated. Yet many of us think in just such terms as these. As long as we do, the confident power which is one of the joys of recognizing and utilizing unity will never come to us.

     The apostle spoke of the "whole family, both in heaven and on earth." As there are these two circles of Christians, one in heaven and one on earth, there are circles among Christians on earth. Too often these have been circles of doctrinal conformity. While we who share fellowship through MISSION MESSENGER in concern for unity are agreed that Christian fellowship must be through the gospel--Jesus, Messiah, Son of God, Savior, with all these terms imply--nevertheless we represent circles, each one of us, with ourselves as the center and the extent of our personal fellowship as the periphery.

     Really, what is "unity" but the enlargement of the periphery of our own personal circles of fellowship?

     And what is the fellowship of the family of the Lord upon the earth but the circumference or periphery of the circle of which Jesus Christ is the center?

     We do not really have to organize a super-church, or convene a super-convention, or have every Christian in the world on the subscription list of MISSION MESSENGER.

     All that has to be done, really, is for enough of Christ's family on earth to enlarge their own personal circles of fellowship to take in enough other Christians so everybody in the earthly circle may be included in a sort of interlocking

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circle of circles. This is not only not impracticable--it is entirely feasible! And all that is necessary to do this is for each one of us consciously and deliberately to enlarge his own circle. Unity is a personal thing. Every time I enlarge my own circle of fellowship and concern for the Lord's work, I add the brother in Christ to whom I have gone, plus the members of his circle. This puts the growth of unity on a multiplication basis, rather than one of simple addition!

     Jesus founded no convention, established no Bible College, nor did he serve as editor of a paper--even one devoted to the admirable ideal of unity. His purpose was to draw all men unto Him. It is a serious mistake when we think of Christian relationships on any other basis than this very simple, personal one. But too often, as every reader of these pages can testify, secondary relationships such as conventions, colleges, papers, or other tools devised to serve Christ more effectively, cease to be secondary and become primary in establishing fellowship.

     This will not happen if we keep fellowship where He put it--on an intimately personal basis, on our relationship to Him. Thus He remains at the center of the circle tor each of us, and thus He will be the center of the circle of fellowship which represents our own personal spiritual acquaintance. If we will just remember this! It is not necessary for everybody who is concerned for the kingdom of Christ to subscribe to Christian Standard, or Voice of Evangelism, or Gospel Advocate, or Firm Foundation. The sword of the Spirit can be honed at Abilene Christian College, or Cincinnati Bible Seminary, or no school at all in a formal sense.

     Our unity concern has made us suspicious of all groups or circles because some are sectarian and divisive. These groups can be a powerful means toward unity. Since none of us is able to know every other Christian personally, such groups or circles must automatically exist. But when Christ is the center of each Christian life, and therefore of his circle of friendship and fellowship, no problem of unity can longer exist. And fellowship as a circle of circles grows automatically and splendidly to include every Christian. Let us realize, and utilize the power available to us to use for Him!