Unity is an interesting concept.
Getting it confused with conformity is so subtle and so prevalent whenever there’s an effort to paint unity in the eyes of one person or organisation. So unity in the light of the glorious God who has expressed a love that can never be fathomed fully is a far better approach. It’s better because for starters the unity is already there. The mention of one source and one route to that one source reaffirms the reality that there is only one. The call then is to maintain that unity.
That can be hard to see in a world where Christianity appears so fragmented. Denominations and divisions within gatherings does much to suggest that unity is non-existent. Even efforts by certain branches to suggest they are the only one or the true one only does more to distort any notion that unity exists.
The reality is, however, as there is only one God, one faith, one baptism, there is only one Body. When Jesus returns, He will be returning for one Body. That’s why the call to maintain unity is an important one. To maintain that unity of the corporate is inextricably linked to the life of the individual.
I love how that life is referred to as a walk – walk worthy, a lifestyle that reflects the desire to display this great, deep and wondrous love that brings us together and makes two become one through Christ. That love is characterised here by humility, gentleness and patience. That walk is characterised by those factors. Those qualities are truly not the typical picture of great humanity. For those who are used to the way of the world boldness is seen in taking control, being powerful, keeping all of that at the core and being proud of that and proud in that. Here though, those who are recipients of the love that can never fully be worked out, the overwhelmed response expresses itself in gentleness. The gratitude leads to humility – a preference for the other. As for patience – it’s not tolerance, it is actively taking delight in the waiting process as that which they know to be true is true and will become true.
Being privileged to see this magnificent reality of the eternal purposes of God and getting an insight into the love that’s worth spending the rest of our lives exploring, should lead us to express these qualities in the desire to maintain that unity. That it does not in some cases, is not an indication that this is impossible. It is a challenge to return to scriptures like this and see that how we engage with each other should display that desire in the light of what we have experienced.
This gets to the heart of the prayer that Jesus prayed that we should be one reflecting how the divine relationship is one. This is something we get to practice every day in various ways as we engage more with the depths and the riches we have in Christ.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 