Unity In The Church

Unity means the state or quality of being one, singleness, the state or quality of being in accord, or harmony.  Born-again believers are the church.  Not everyone in the building, we call the church, are true believers or are part of the church.  

One of the responsibilities of the church is to witness to the non-believer outside the church building, but what about the non-believers in the church?  If the true believers are not unified in love and grace toward one another, will it not hinder the non-believer from becoming a Christian?  And what about the clicks in the church that seem to only be concerned with those in their group, will that not also hinder the non-believer from making a decision about following the Lord?  

Jesus said this in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  This was spoken at the time when Jesus was talking to His disciples and Peter about him denying Jesus.  Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to a close and He knew what would be needed most among his body.  Love and unity were very important to Jesus and very important to His followers.  

Unity and love in the church were very important to Paul also, He said this in Ephesians 4:1-4, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for 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.”  I can’t stress this enough, unity and love are so important in the body of Christ.

The body of Christ is made up of so many different people with so many gifts and talents and we need to appreciate one another.  Although it is hard to get along with such diversity in so many people we need to work at it, seeking unity and love, not division or separation in the body because the body of Christ is that important.  Try to think about how different people compliment the body instead of thinking negatively, work at being a positive role model encouraging and building up the body instead of thinking of things that will tear it down.  

I need not only to write this to help others, but I need to learn this also because to my shame I have been guilty of separation instead of unity at times and I am sorry, sometimes I feel like such a hypocrite.  I am sure glad for the Holy Spirit’s conviction when I am doing these blogs so that I can repent when I need to, praise the Lord!!  

I have just been reminded of the words of a song that Jimmy Hendrix sang, in the song he sang these words, “excuse me while I kiss the sky.”   He would have been much better off if he sang, “excuse me while I weep and repent,” like I am doing right now.  One of the differences between me and Jimmy is when he was high and sang it was because of drugs, when I get high it is because of the Holy Spirit, praise the Lord!!  I liked Jimmy, I think he would have made a great Christian, he had some great gifts, but as far as I know he never was.  I didn’t mean to distract anyone but I try to be transparent and write what I feel the Lord wants me to put on here.

Paul also said this in verses 11-16, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

The body of Christ, if it is going to be fully complete, needs to grow in unity, encouraging and lifting up one another and holding each other accountable in love.  Forgiving whatever grievances we have with each other and uniting in one purpose to honor the Lord.  

Question:  have you been guilty of dividing the church?  No matter what reasons you think you might have, you need to repent and confess it to the Lord.  He is waiting for you to admit your guilt and repent, like I did, not long ago.  Then pray and ask the Lord to help you never to do that again. Don’t hold on to the guilt any longer; give it to the Lord today.  God bless and have a great day.