real unity
If you’re like me, at some point in your life you have probably fallen into the internet hole of watching countless flash mobs that have been coordinated to raise awareness for a certain social issue, or even for a man to propose to his future bride. Flash mobs are simply astonishing and serendipitous. If someone witnesses a flash mob, they are forced to stop whatever they may be doing, and to turn their attention to the unifying act of positive messaging. These acts always seem to warm people’s heart. Flash mobs are either incredibly moving, or they are colossal disasters. I have found that the very best flash mobs always consist of these three essential aspects: extremely large gatherings of people, an underlying purpose that edifies the world, and diversity in individuals’ movement with their bodies. The greatest flash mobs never have every single person performing the same exact movement in the same way for the entire display; rather, the most beautiful expressions tend to be people coming together to perform different movements for the same purpose. I believe that is what unity looks like. Grant Skeldon says, “Unity is not everyone doing the same thing. It’s everyone doing different things in the same direction.” Unity is not uniformity. Uniformity is bland and distasteful. Unity incorporates a diversity of strengths, callings, and passions to accomplish one specific purpose. Unity is exciting, lively, and adventurous. Unity looks like a really great flash mob.
The language that Paul uses throughout His letters to the early churches that paint the picture of the Body of Christ show God’s beautiful intention for unity. The Church is simply a picture of many body parts, with many different gifts, talents, and functions, showing a willingness to come together under one Head, Jesus, to fulfill His purposes for the world. God has chosen to move in this world through His church, and the church does not function without unity. A finger cannot perform its function without the hand and the arm. A finger is useless on its own. We need each other more than we understand, because we need each other for our well-being, but we also need each other to be functional as a body. We need each other to be effective in this fallen world. The Church is not only better together, the Church does not work unless we are together. We are made for each other. We are made for unity.
The passage of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 is the clearest picture of God’s intention for unity in the world. Within this passage, we see God’s thought process for designing each member of the Church with specific gifts that are only useful if they are directed toward the edification of the Church. There should be no division in the church, because even those people that seem to bring nothing to the table by human standards, bring a heavenly gift that should be valued as treasure. Take some time to meditate on these five verses from 1 Corinthians 12.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
Unity not only is beneficial for working to accomplish God’s purposes, unity builds an atmosphere. A group is more than a collection of individuals, it also includes an understood set of rules on how members of the group should relate to one another. This idea is called culture. Unity of people from diverse backgrounds and world-views builds a certain atmosphere. That atmosphere must be stewarded and directed towards glorifying God, building up each other, and seeking to comfort the brokenhearted. Unity is a powerful thing, but it must be stewarded. Culture must be stewarded. Heavenly unity and heavenly culture never spring up out of the depths of the atmosphere. These things are not born, they are developed. They are made. They must be worked at and sharpened. God desires that leaders are to rise up within the Body of Christ to lead the charge at cultivating communities of unity and heavenly culture. Is God calling you to be that leader? Do you have a heart for the isolated? Do you have people around you who hold strengths and passions but have not directed them in a heavenly direction? God wants to raise up leaders to build the Kingdom. God needs willing hearts. He needs people that are willing to work for His vision of the Bride. Everyone has a role to play in this beautiful relationship we have with our Groom, what is your role?
Prayer:
Father, thank you that you do not desire for people to live in isolation. Thank you for the wonderful gift of people. Thank you that every person is beautifully unique. Father, you are the Head of the Body. We have a small role to play in your big, beautiful vision for your Body, but our role is so important. I pray that I would understand just how important my role is to cultivate unity in your Bride. Give me vision, give me passion, give me an awareness of what your Spirit wants to do. Direct your body into true unity. We are open. We are willing. We are following you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions:
1. Reflect on your past 12 months of your life. Have you been partnering with heaven to cultivate unity in the Body of Christ? Why or why not?
2. Who is someone in your life that looks different than you and/or thinks different than you? What can you do today to connect with them on a deeper level?
3. God wants you to take action to build unity around you. What is the Holy Spirit asking you to do? What will you commit to?
