1 + 1 = 1

 

 

That they may all be one

even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,

that they also may be in Us.

~John 17:21

 

 

One + one = one.  Really?  Jesus said so.

 

For months now, the topic of unity and its biggest enemy have engaged my mind.  Unity is a vital component of life in the Body of Christ.  No unity, no life or peace, no fruitful ministry because everything is a struggle and everyone is suspicious of everyone else when there is no unity.  It's similar to a group of people in a tug of war.  Without unity our churches and we cannot be or become truly who we were created to be. 

 

When making a speech or writing a paper, speakers and writers usually present their most important reason in the final section of their speech or paper.  I find it interesting that Jesus' prayer for unity was the very last item He prayed for before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  Unity seems to important to Him.

 

What is unity's biggest enemy?  Fear, not diversity.  

 

How does this fear work? 

• We see something that we don't understand which makes us afraid because this something could somehow bring changes in our own lives.  
• Then we become obsessed about this thing and make judgments about others without going to these people and really finding out what is really happening.  
• Once we make these judgments, we begin to put into practice our defense against this thing. 
• Then our tongues begin to work, and we share our important information with someone else who then also "sees". 
•  Paranoia ensues and peace becomes a dream. 
• Then come repercussion that could ultimately end in a split or a parting of ways.

Why was unity so important to Jesus and Father God and Holy Spirit?  In verse 21 of John 17, Jesus says that our unity will make the world believe that God sent Him.  The world today is a mess.  We see very little unity anywhere.  O, that our churches and worship groups would be places of unity, a holy breath of fresh air set apart from the world at large.  Our unity will convince those in our sphere of influence that Jesus came, that He was who He said He was, and that God and Holy Spirit truly exist.

 

Our unity is also His glory.  In verse 22, Jesus prays that the glory which God has given Him be given to us so that we may be one just as Jesus, Father God, and Holy Spirit are one.  He was willing to give us His glory so that we might be unified - "perfected in unity so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You have loved Me."(v22-23)  This unity allows us to demonstrate to the world that the Father loves them and us just as much as He loved Jesus, His only Son (23).  This unity allows the love that Jesus deposited in our hearts to be lavished on those around us (v26). 

 

Paul also has much to say about unity in Ephesians 4: 1-6. 

 

I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

showing tolerance for one another in love,

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit,

just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all

who is over all and through all and in all.

 

 

Yes, this is sound doctrine, but it is also our duty, His command.  It is a principle that we need to practice.  We need to position ourselves in this so that our behavior will reflect our belief. 

 

• What is humility?  Having a modest opinion of one's own importance / not thinking you are better that other people
• What is gentleness?  Being mild spirited and self-controlled
• What is patience?  Accepting delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset  or complaining / enduring the whatevers, whoevers, and whenevers of life
• What is showing tolerance for one another in love?  Bearing with others and their uniqueness continuously and unconditionally
• What is diligent? Industrious, hard-working, conscientious, careful, thorough, painstaking

 

A church is composed of many members - the gifted and the not-so gifted, the loveable and the hard-to-love, the loud and those who hardly speak, the sick and those who need healing, the teachers and the students, the leaders and those who follow, those with big ideas and those who implement those ideas, the self-sufficient and the needy, etc.  Yes, we are a diverse group created by an extraordinary God which makes each and every one of us extraordinary.

 

We all get to play.  We all are a gift to the body.  All of our gifts regardless of size are important and vital. 

 

May all of us see the God in each other and rejoice over His creativity and diversity.  May all of learn to tame our tongues and to be bold enough to go to the source before jumping to conclusions. May all of us learn how to "play nice" and how to walk in faith and not fear believing that He who created us all is perfectly capable and is big enough to take care of everyone else. 

 

I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble just taking care of me.