What actually is Christian unity (or communion)?

This question is relevant to the crisis the Anglican church has faced in recent years.

Is 'being in communion' about mere formal acknowledgement that you fall under the same label as others in other places? Or is it a matter of substance? If a matter of substance, then why bother with the formal pretence?

Since a Christian's ultimate standard is God's Word, let's see what it has to say on the matter:

1. 1 Cor. 1:9: "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
2. 2 Cor. 6:14: "14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"
3. Gal. 2:9: "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews."
4. 1 John 1:3: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."
5. Phil 2:1-2: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. "

The above demonstrate that being in communion (fellowship) refers to a religious sharing, a religious commonness. It is concrete and substantial. It is about being united in Christ, who is LORD. It is not about being united under a mere name that includes those who deny God incarnate is LORD. Being in communion is about the unity of God's elect. Being in communion necessarily presupposes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, regeneration and a process of sanctification. It is the sign of an unregenerate who denies Christ as LORD of all and the absolute authority of His Word. This is because God, by His nature, is absolutely authoritative and chosing any authority apart from Him is idolatory.

The SAD state of the Anglican community

The Sydney Morning Herald has today published an article titled Believe it or not, the bishop's an agnostic. It can be found here: http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/believe-it-or-not-the-bishops-an-agnostic/2009/05/19/1242498751437.html

The title seems to suggest that it is unbelievable that an Anglican bishop would not believe in God. While it should be unbelievable, the sad fact is that the Anglican church is littered with liberals who do not believe in God, reject Christian doctrine, reject the authority of God's Word, and so forth.

The bishop in question, Richard Holloway, argues that since Anglicanism has included an openly gay bishop and even practitioners of other religions, that there is no reason why he cannot be part of the Anglican church. There is a certain logic to Holloway's position, but it is devious reasoning. It argues that sin permits sin, except it doesn't call it sin. Once you move away from a Biblical position, placing Christ firmly in the centre and bending the knee to God's authoritative revelation to us, then it is 'anything goes'.

According to the article, he "still preaches from the pulpit, performs baptisms and weddings and even presides at communion." This is unacceptable: heretics need to be given the flick. They cannot be welcome in the church. The Bible doesn't mince words about this and nor should we (2 John 1:7-11):

" 7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. "