Articles
God's Priority: Unity
God’s Priority: Unity
By David Thurman
Each day as I drive to my office at the church building, I pass many different kinds of religious meeting places. All these churches and other religious groups wear different names and practice many different styles of worship. And I ask myself, “Is this what God wanted?” Let us take some time to see what the Bible says about division and unity.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forebearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:1-6). From these verses as a starting point, let us see how important unity is to God.
Worthy Lives Reflect Unity
As Paul writes these words from a Roman imprisonment, he pleads with us to get along. We are to live worthy lives not by avoiding sin, but by embracing unity. Now, it is important to be holy in all aspects of life. But, for Paul, the worthy life is one that compels believers to get along.
Worthy Lives Put Up with Each Other
God knows His children won’t be perfect. They won’t see all things the same. The fact is, we are different in our background, our family values and countless other ways. What do you do when you are in Christ and the people around you are different? Paul says you bear with each other. This forebearance is vital. No one comes into the kingdom by man’s power. All are added by the Lord (Acts 2:47). If God saves someone, adding him or her to His body, then it becomes my task to put up with that person in all his strengths and weaknesses. Too often we abandon each other too quickly over the obvious differences between us. Sometimes that is racial or ethnic, sometimes it is socio-economic. God wants us to put up with each other.
Unity is Bigger than Me
We are commanded to keep “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), God desires that we as Christians have peace, not dissension, between us. When we divide or subdivide the body, we are making a tragic mistake. God wants peace between His children. To achieve that, I have to realize that I may not get my way. Unity is bigger than me. Our getting along is much more important than my getting what I want from the body or other believers. Usually when churches struggle and split, there is tension between people wanting their way versus others who want their way. But, if we will listen to Paul, we will want unity above our own interests.
Jesus desired Peace and Unity
Some might think that Paul was overdoing it when he insisted on unity. But, if you look at the teaching of Jesus, you will hear the same thing. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). In these verses, known now as the beatitudes, Jesus stresses the value of making and sustaining peace. Getting along and ending differences mattered to Jesus.
Later, we learn why when we hear the Lord pray on the night before His death. “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus prayed that we would all be one. He never prayed or suggested that His followers should divide into separate groups with different names and habits. He wanted unity among us, a unity that reflects the unity between Him and the Father.
And, Jesus says this unity will be a powerful factor in convincing the world of the truth of the gospel. That is, people will be more likely to believe in Jesus if they see His people getting along. And, who wants to go to a body of believers who don’t like each other, who don’t put up with each other, who will not put unity above self? A squabbling, divisive, unhappy church will not appeal to anyone, saved or lost. To accomplish what Jesus prayed for, we have to learn to get along and maintain unity above self.
The Practical Side of Unity
What does this kind of unity look like? What does it take for people to get along like this? Let’s again let the apostle Paul give us the answer. “A renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:11-17). Paul makes many points, but let’s notice three.
In Christ Differences Are Removed
The things that used to divide us, such as race or nationality are removed. We are no longer just Americans or Hispanics. Instead, we are just Christians. When we are baptized into the name of Christ, all the social and racial differences are taken away. Now, we are Christians, and only Christians. As believers, we cannot allow those old differences of race, or nationality, or economic status to divide us. Jesus has already taken those walls down. Let’s not be guilty of rebuilding them.
Act Like You Like Each Other
As we read through these verses in Colossians, we realize that our treatment of each other is not superficial. We are to “put on love” which is the glue that makes our unity possible. I know we are to love our enemies, but we shouldn’t view our brothers and sisters in Christ as enemies. They are family. We should treat them as such. We can see each other’s failings. We can know that none of us is perfect, none is good enough to deserve our love, let alone God’s love. Still, the command from God is to love each other and act like we like each other.
So, our actions will reflect our love. We will be humble, we will be compassionate. We will quickly forgive. We will listen patiently to complaints and will do all we can to resolve differences and heal hurt feelings. That is what it means to act like you like each other.
Focus on Christ
Paul finishes this great text by reminding us of our focus. We are to let the word live in us as we teach and admonish each other in worship. The focus of our worship is Christ. Everything we do, in worship, in life, in church ministry should point to Jesus. When we keep our focus on Him the unity He desires becomes much easier.
On the other hand, when we let our focus drift to our differences, to our preferences, then all of a sudden we are discussing, fussing and dividing. Notice that our singing, like all else in the life of the body of Christ, is aimed at others. Our singing is not done in a closet, but in the company of other believers. We teach each other in song, and our focus is on Jesus.
What Happens When We Mess Up?
Sadly, there was a church in the first century that struggled with fussing and division. What happens when a church fails at unity? Paul tells us. “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (I Cor. 1:10-13).
We Create Divisions
Paul asks the question directly. “Is Christ divided?” Can we really go off in our little group, choose a name to follow (like Peter or Paul or Apollos) and still be what God wants us to be? Division is clearly wrong and Paul is adamant that man-made divisions dishonor the Lord. The idea that we can create our own religious group or sect and call it what we want is not a New Testament teaching.
We Lessen the Christ
Anytime we do what the Corinthians did, we lessen the Christ. The focus goes away from Him and is put on our peculiar name or doctrine. We just don’t realize how damaging this can be. Instead of convicting the world as Jesus prayed, we convince the world that Christians are no different from others. We can’t get along either. We don’t honor Jesus by doing what He wants, instead we pursue a course that we want. All these choices bring dishonor, not glory, to Jesus.
So: Unity is God’s Priority
Perhaps if we could recapture the importance of unity we would do more to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If we could realize how vital unity is to fulfilling God’s plan to draw the world to Christ, we would not let little things interfere with our getting along. Just know that when you abandon brothers or sisters, you are not doing what God desires. Take the Corinthians for example. Paul writes to a very dysfunctional church. But, he writes to them as brothers, not as enemies. His goal then, as ours should be now, is that they change and get along.
So: Unity Must Be in Doctrine
Neither Jesus nor Paul would ever contend that we have unity by holding radically different doctrines. That is, if someone wants to deny the divinity of Jesus and will not abandon that position, fellowship is impossible. So, what do we do? We go back to the Word of God and lift up the Christ. By uniting on the revealed will of God, we can leave behind opinions and preferences and just be and do what God wants us to be and do.
So: Unity Must Be in Fact
However, unity must be more than just our agreement on doctrinal principles. Our unity must be in fact. We should be seen to treat each other with love, compassion and mercy. We should be known as people who quickly forgive and reconcile to resolve differences. We must be seen as people who have to get their way, but will submit to the needs of others. When the world sees our unity, Jesus says the world will be convinced.