John Bunyan's Exhortation to Peace and Unity

George Platt

If you were to look at a list of the best-selling Christian books of today, you would be unlikely to find one on the topic of church unity. To many Christians this is a relatively unimportant theme and probably not one you would choose to read a book about; however, it has struck me this year that this is one of the main themes of the NT epistles. 

One of Paul’s great concerns in his magisterial letter to the Romans is the peace and unity of the church at Rome, which was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The rich Gospel theology of Chapters 1 to 11 lead up to such exhortations as, “Let us pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding” (14:19). Paul’s first benediction to them is, “May the God of peace be with you all” (15:33). 

Likewise, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, after the exalted Gospel doctrine of chapters 1-3, he begins his detailed section of application with an exhortation to unity and peace - Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

I have recently been preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In Chapter 4, Paul’s great concern for the unity of the church at Philippi, hinted at throughout the letter, is made explicit with the mention of two women, Euodia and Syntyche, who he entreats to “agree in the Lord” (4:2). So much of what he says in this great letter is with an aim of maintaining or restoring the peace and unity of the church at Phillipi: “practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you”, he says (4:9). 

Why was the Apostle Paul so concerned about this? Because our Lord Jesus Christ is. It was what he prayed for on the eve of his death, asking four times that his people “may be one” (John 17).  Is it any wonder, then, that the servants of Christ who most share His heart care deeply about the unity of the church?

When I was a younger Christian I didn’t much care about this. Young Christians are often very passionate and want to be involved in promoting the work of the Lord through external works such as evangelism and social action – which are wonderful things – but sadly, like Euodia and Syntyche, they can be doing good work outside the church, and yet also be contributing to disunity within the church by their attitudes towards their brothers and sisters. Often, it is as we mature in Christ that we become more and more concerned about the peace and unity of the church itself. 

I recently rediscovered a great little book by the Puritan John Bunyan called An Exhortation to Peace and Unity.* It’s a masterful little work based on Ephesians 4:3, “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Bunyan was a man who had come to share the concern of Christ for the peace and unity of His church. Like our Lord, he was a man of strong Biblical convictions, and yet he was also a man of peace who worked hard to promote peace in the church and in Christian relationships. His little work on Ephesians 4:3 was one such endeavour, and in my opinion, it is a book that all pastors should become well acquainted with—and many church members too!

Bunyan masterfully shows how true Christian unity is a unity in the Lord Jesus and in His gospel, which wonderfully unites us. We cannot have unity without that. However, he argues, we err when we make every doctrine the test of unity. Bunyan says: 

“Consider how pernicious a thing it is to make every doctrine (though true) the bond of communion. This is that which destroys unity. How needful then is it for Christians to distinguish (if ever they would be at peace and unity) between those truths which are essential to church-communion, and those that are not?”

Our unity is in the gospel and it is maintained by practicing the behaviours which flow from the gospel. “Our Lord gave His body to be broken, to keep his church from breaking.”

He describes this in vivid, living terms:

“This unity of the church is a unity of love and affection, and not a bare uniformity of practice and opinion.”

John Bunyan was a man who embodied the things he commended to others. On 31 August, 1688, Bunyan died in London after becoming unwell as a result of getting drenched in a storm while riding to Reading. The journey to Reading was a mission of mercy to effect reconciliation between a young neighbour of his and the father with whom he had quarrelled. The mission was successful in restoring father and son to peace and unity, but one which came at a cost to Bunyan of his earthly life. 

Bunyan was driven by the Spirit of Christ to do whatever he could to promote peace and unity among believers. I highly commend his little book written to that end. It may not be regarded as one of the most important themes for a Christian book on earth, but it is surely regarded as such in heaven!  

*I listened to it being read on YouTube twice over - 1 hour and 39 mins at normal speed. (Incidentally, for those who would like to get better acquainted with great theological works from the past, but who get frustrated that you can’t find enough time to sit down and read them, I would encourage searching online to see whether someone has uploaded a free audio version. Many such works have been uploaded onto YouTube in recent years - which is a great service to the church!)

George Platt

George Platt is Pastor of Highgate Road Chapel in North London and trained for the ministry at London Seminary.