Christians. We come from different backgrounds, are of different ethnicities, hold different political views, have different opinions, interests, and convictions—the list goes on—and then...we walk into the same church. What seems like a recipe for dissension and division, should be a glorious concoction of diverse people who live in the reality of their union in Christ. But that’s the challenge: to live in the reality of our union with one another because of our common union in Christ.
Today’s world seems to thrive on division. Go to any cable news network, take a look at Twitter or Facebook, or just listen to folks around the watercooler. People take offense with other people over all kinds of things. And by people, I mean to include Christians. I mean to include us.
Divisions inside the local church are tragic. Each of us have either experienced or are aware of situations where Christians have hurt other Christians with unkind or insensitive words and actions. When this happens, the enemy celebrates. Relationships grow cold, bitterness takes root, passive-aggressive behavior begins to manifest itself, and a whole host of other ungodly attitudes and behaviors spill over, affecting—among other things—our gospel witness and our Lord’s command to love one another.
The difficulty of living in the reality of our union with one another isn’t anything new. In the Scriptures we see Peter distance himself from certain Christians because he feared what people would think about him; Greek-speaking Christian Jews complained against Hebrew-speaking Christian Jews regarding the distribution of food; and Paul and Barnabas had “a sharp disagreement” to the effect that they “separated from each other.” We face the same challenge as our Christian ancestors. Our plight is not a new one. But just because we are waging an ongoing war, doesn’t mean we give up the battle.
Christian unity is non-negotiable, especially within the local church. There is no ambiguity in the scriptures about our aim and responsibility when it comes to brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to make every effort to maintain unity (Eph 4:13), to be of the same mind and the same judgment (1 Cor 1:10), to live in harmony with one another (Rom 15:5), and to be in full accord and of one mind (Phil 2:2). One thing we can be certain of is this: It is our Lord’s desire—yes, even his command—that we live in unity with one another.
So how is it that we can live in glad unity with one another? A few ideas—some rather practical—for your consideration.
See Christians for who they are at their core: sinners, saved by grace just like you. Remember that you share this commonality. Brothers and sisters, we are far more alike than we are different. Because of God’s great love for them, they too have been made alive with Christ (Eph 2:4-5), they are God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10), they are now children of God (John 1:12), they’ve been justified by the blood of Jesus (Rom 3:22), they’re sanctified (1 Cor 6:11), they have become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).
Reflect on the reality of your spiritual unity with other believers. Not only are we like our fellow Christians in that we’ve been saved, but we are united to them for two reasons: because of what God has done for us in Jesus, and because of who we are in Jesus. Ephesians 4:4-6 states:
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Maintain a mission mindset. Each of us has a role within the body of Christ. When we live out those roles, the church benefits and the gospel advances. By God’s design, we are all needed to accomplish this mission. As the human body works in unison for the good of itself, so we too must work together for the good of the body of Christ.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (I Corinthians 12:12-20)
Magnify the Gospel. Differences exist. There are different convictions on serious and important matters. That’s okay. Inside the local church, we should expect that those around us will not have the same convictions as us on a host of issues. Unity does not mean uniformity or sameness. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us this. Fundamentally, what unites us—what God has done for us in Jesus and who we are in Jesus—is stronger than anything that could possibly divide us. As such, everything in our lives outside the gospel ought to pale in comparison to the passion and love that we have for Jesus. “To live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:21)
Demonstrate sensitivity and gentleness on hot-button topics. There will be times when you may need to speak or act on a particularly sensitive matter. When you do so, speak with wisdom and gentleness.
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly…
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-2,4)
Expect unity to be hard work. Unity will require denying yourself. It will require not having the last word and laying down preferences. When you feel the urge to pull back from your brothers and sisters, move towards them in the love of Jesus. Ephesians 4:3 tells us, “Be diligent to keep unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (NASB). The CSB puts it this way: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
May our unity with our Christian brothers and sisters overflow out of our love for Jesus and His great work on our behalf.
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