John’s gospel records our Lord’s High Priestly petition in which he prayed that we, his followers, would be united. This is how he worded it, “May they [that would include us] be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23 NIV)
Two thousand years have passed since that prayer; unfortunately disunity and discord have dogged much of church history. What do we 21st century Christians need to learn about the value of stronger unity? Some might prefer an acrostic of unity’s descriptors, but instead, let’s consider an acrostic of “what unity is not.” These terms, which are often mistaken as building blocks to unity, will most likely result in strife and unrest. As we examine these imposters, hopefully we will better understand what creates unity in the church.
Unity is not:
Uniformity – Many have mistakenly concluded that in order to achieve unity, there must be a uniformity of ideas, thoughts and opinions. Unity has never been about total agreement. If you are or have been married, then you know that a couple can be united without agreeing on every point. One of the great legacies of our Stone/Campbell heritage is the plea for unity. As one studies through our movement’s history, it quickly becomes apparent that Stone and Campbell didn’t agree on everything, but that didn’t stop them from being united in their efforts to reform the church and spread the gospel. They remained united on the authority of Scripture.
Natural – I contend that unity does not come naturally; it requires hard work. Granted, it is worth the work, but it is far easier to be content with one’s own thoughts, ideas and convictions. When we work toward unity, those thoughts, ideas and convictions will be challenged. But I’m a better person when I’m challenged to think through and defend what I believe. In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: “There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started to take karate lessons, but then the karate teacher said I had to start paying him five dollars a lesson. So, I just went back to paying the bully instead.” Unity is hard work – sometimes it is easier to simply “pay the bully.”
Incidental – Unity will not occur incidentally or accidentally. If we just sit around waiting for the spirit of unity to come knocking on the church door, we’re going to be waiting a loooong time! Unity requires an intentionality. As disciples each of us must be intentional about seeking unity in the church. Physically speaking, good health isn’t incidental, either. We must be intentional about eating properly and exercising appropriately – sitting around waiting for good health to show up has the opposite effect. The same is true in the Body of Christ; waiting for unity to “just happen” will have the opposite impact.
Trivial – Some treat unity as if it doesn’t really matter. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It was in the closing hours of his earthly ministry that Jesus prayed for unity! If Jesus felt compelled to spend those precious last hours praying for unity among his followers – both present and those yet to come – then there is nothing trivial about it! As Christians, we ought to pray for and work toward unity in the congregations where we worship and serve. Don’t take it lightly; the world needs to see that we are ONE before they can be WON. That’s not trivial!
Yielding – Unity does not mean that you will be required to yield your beliefs or convictions in order to find common ground. Remember, we will never have unity with the world, but then, that’s not our goal. We seek unity in the church. Again, some mistakenly conclude that they will have to give up what is important in order to find that oneness. That runs counter to the very heart of unity. Yes, sometimes compromise may be needed, but we can compromise opinions without yielding convictions. Stand firm in your faith and on God’s Word. The last word on unity is always God’s Word!
Don’t strive for uniformity, don’t expect unity to come naturally, don’t wait for it to happen incidentally, don’t treat it trivially, and don’t yield your convictions to accomplish it. Seek unity in Jesus Christ and our churches will become a reflection of our Lord’s heartfelt prayer.
