Return to Unity

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” (Psalm 133:1, HCSB)

“Teamwork makes the dream work.” Have you ever heard that phrase? Sometimes it’s spoken in a sort of pseudo-seriousness when things go south or a bad team plays worse. Other times it’s an accurate description of unity.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Renewal and Revival Lead to Unity

Few things are more frustrating in the Christian life than when believers in Jesus, especially those in the same church, are not living in unity. Christians out of unity are like constant fingernails on a blackboard. They are a hindrance to the body and a displeasure to the Lord.

One of the sure results of revival or renewal is unity. People who were at odds are repentant and reconciled. People who weren’t speaking cannot stop praying for and with each other.

Unity is Necessary to fulfill our Mission

Unity is necessary for a church to fulfill its mission. A yoke of oxen or team of horses pulling in different directions will make it impossible to complete the task at hand. There must be a common direction, common goal, common task, and usually a common leader. As I noted in Bible Studies for Life, “Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose.”¹ Followers of Jesus need to follow Jesus, and we need to follow Jesus together.

The early church was a people of unity. They had to be. Disunity had to be dealt with immediately, whether a doctrinal issue (like the Judaizers) or a practical issue (ministering to widows). Unity was essential for the mission.

Unity as a Natural Outflow

Unity in the early church went far beyond unity of behavior, or simply unity toward a goal. They were unified in their very lives. Unity was a natural outflow of their love for each other and for God. Scripture records, “For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostle’s feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.”²

Among those early believers, unity extended far beyond what we normally consider “unity in the church.” They were unified in how they lived their lives to the point of sharing their possessions to meet each other’s physical needs.

Paul alluded to this kind of commitment in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (HCSB). Paul’s strategy for spiritual growth included what we might call total life immersion. He didn’t do “hit-and-run” preaching. He shared his life with the Thessalonian believers alongside sharing the gospel. Being together clearly meant something to Paul.

Unity of life far surpasses unity that exists only to reach goals or ministry objectives. In fact, goals and ministry objectives themselves should flow out of relationships that are unified. When everyone is on the same page with Jesus, it is much easier to be on the same page with each other.

Now is the Time to Lead,

Ronnie W. Floyd

Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
President, Southern Baptist Convention

References

¹– Bible Studies for Life, Awake, Ronnie Floyd
²– Acts 4:34-35 (HCSB)