Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives

Demands Of Unity

by Chris Simmons

There is to be no doubt that the Lord desires, demands, and deserves unity of His disciples. Jesus said in John 17:17-21, Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth … 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.” If we are to achieve the Lord’s prayer for unity, it demands a number of things from each one of us.

In order to attain and maintain fellowship with the Father and His Son (“that they may be in Us”), unity demands that we realize it to the same degree that Jesus has with His Father (“that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee”). Jesus identifies this level of unity as a means of authenticating our fellowship before the world as He went on to say in verse 21, “that the world may believe” and in verse 23, “that the world may know that you sent Me.” No one would ever dare to suggest that the unity shared by the Father and the Son could ever be characterized or defined by an “agree to disagree” mentality. Yet that’s the mantra and the call by so many today among those who claim to follow the Lord – a unity actually based in disagreement of what God’s revealed will says. One of the things I remember of my education in mathematics is the principle of lowest common denominator. In solving algebraic equations, it’s a vital concept to learn and apply. In achieving unity in Christ, unity based on the lowest common denominator (finding any spiritual truths that we may be able to agree upon) is a recipe for spiritual disaster.

Unity demands submission to a common standard. We all may have our own ideas on what God would desire of us in our lives, but until we submit to a common standard or rule, unity will be impossible to achieve. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, who were far from being united, and exhorted them in I Corinthians 1:10, “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree (speak the same thing, ASV), and that there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Unity demands that we agree and “speak the same thing” by limiting our teaching and doctrine to the “utterances of God” (I Peter 4:11). Paul exhorted Timothy to “retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me” (II Timothy 1:13). Unity demands therefore that we hold onto the standard or pattern as spoken by our Lord and His holy apostles. Unity necessitates that we do what God’s word commands to be done (“do this,” I Corinthians 11:24-25), and follow the examples that the apostles set (“the things you have … seen in me, practice these things,” Philippians 4:9) and draw the required conclusions that God’s word communicates.

Unity demands humility. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:1-5, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, instructs us that “selfishness or empty conceit” will always destroy unity. Selfishness and unity are utterly incompatible and until we are able – in all sincerity – to “regard one another as more important than ourselves,” our pursuit of unity will be as productive as chasing the wind. This is true in the church as we deal with the interpersonal conflicts that threaten to tear apart a church from the inside out as well as in the home where unity is equally dependent on such a regard for one another. How many more homes and churches will we allow to be torn apart before we overcome our selfishness and put the looking out for the interests of others above our own?

Paul addresses several more demands of unity in Colossians 3:12-14, “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.”

Unity demands compassion, patience, and forgiveness. Paul identifies a number of demands of unity in that context and he begins by addressing the need for compassion, sympathy, and pity for another; patience when we’re not treated as we’d like and a forgiving heart that does not hold onto a grudge or harbor ill will towards those who have done us wrong.

Lastly, we then must understand that unity demands love. Agape love is simply about seeking the best interest of one another and unity will be attained when we demonstrate such a love in our lives in the church and at home. As noted above, Paul’s exhortation for unity is based on a foundation that we “maintain the same love” (Philippians 2:2) which he then describes in Colossians 3:14 as the “perfect bond of unity.”

David, who knew and experienced his share of conflict and disharmony, wrote in Psalms 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” But we must understand that unity is not a nicety or luxury but it’s demanded and expected of God’s children and we must understand all that is expected of us to achieve it.

Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives