I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10)There is a beauty that comes in unity. Someone once said that there is no power on earth greater than the power of a group of people believing something together.
That believing together is unity. It is something that should mark the Christian faith, but too often doesn’t.
Today (Saturday, when I am writing this) is the day that a group of people say that Jesus is going to come again and rapture his people away. So far, it has not happened.
And not only that, it will not happen simply because some guy make a prediction that it will. Mark 13:31-33 has Jesus himself saying: No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Unfortunately, the world news media has seized on this as being indicative of all Christianity and how silly we look, they say.
Unity is not believing anything together, no matter how silly it is. This man is wrong in what he says, yet he is my brother. Unity is believing in what the Lord says together on the important things.
It is a commonality of purpose and mission. It is being together and loving each other as brothers and sisters. It is not taking offense when one of us makes a mistake. It is helping those who are weaker in the faith to keep up. It is the focus of being together in one mind and one heart striving together to one end. It is One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
It is being together and loving each other. It is not arguing over little things, but how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)
Unity does not demand that we see things the same way. Pastor Mel and I see some things totally differently (may the Lord bless him anyway), but we are in unity in that which is important. We, both of us, believe that he is God and that Jesus is his Son, risen from the dead to bring us back to God.
That which is important we agree on. That which is not, we, for the most part do, too. But our unity is based on that which is important, not small gray areas.
Unity is agreement. Unity is lack of divisions. Unity is being united in mind and thought. Not being robots that go the same way on everything, but each loving God and seeking him the best they can.
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