Unity Is Not a Four Letter Word
This has been a subject running through my mind recently and was at the center of a discussion between my wife and I, during our travels through the yellow/green fields of Ohio last Sunday afternoon. Why is such a simple and universal truth, so hard to live out within the Christian culture?Jesus’ heart for unity amongst believers is clear as he prays to God on the eve of his crucifixion in John 17:23 - “May they be bought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me”.
Jesus knew that if Gods children were to live in unity, the world would turn and believe. This morning during my quiet time I read Romans 15: 1-13, go have a read yourself and see the instructions it lays out to Christians on this topic.
It should be a no-brainer, but everyday I speak to pastors and youth pastors who tell me they have no relationships with other area pastors. Its like they live on an island isolated by their different worship styles and beliefs, but with no desire to build a bridge. They’re content to be a candle burning under a clay pot rather than a lighthouse on a hill.
Church we need to live out what Christ commands, that we ‘live in unity with one another’. Let us put aside our small differences, prejudices, suspicion and mistrust and focus on the things that unite us: Christ, His suffering, His death and resurrection, and the truth that faith in Him alone brings salvation.
This is the reason Christ died and the reason we live, to proclaim the message of salvation to a hurt and dying world. Protestants to Catholics, Methodists to Baptists, Conservative to Charismatic the Pentecostal and anyone else in between, let’s unite in this cause together, let the world see that we are one, and let our love for one another be our beacon pointing to Christ. Let us be a city on a hill, a place of refuge for the hurting and hungry, and let us allow the world to see us living in unity by working together in our local communities.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
AMEN!! Seven years ago when the LORD called me to found a youth ministry called FLY(Furthering the Lords Youth) , one of the main goals was this concept we called Unity through Diversity. We hoped to network the area youth pastors for events with the common goal to unite for the Kingdom. We were semi successful but were amazed and discouraged at the lack of willingness to work together. I still feel this is one of Gods priorities for us to pursue as Christians and I guess I will continue this till the end.