It has become a common theme among social commentators to point out the divisive, tribalistic, fractious character of today’s culture. Most lament the caustic nature of the “groupthink” that takes place in our contemporary society; and, yet it persists with little indication that this contentious spirit is diminishing. We readily see the destructive impact on our institutions and social order, yet feel impotent to prevent our friends, our neighbors, and ourselves from falling into that spirit.
Of course, Christians should lament this state of affairs as much or more than most, for the Gospel of Jesus stresses unity with great deliberation.
Why all the Christian emphasis on “unity?” Why does the Church speak of unity among believers so stridently and frequently?
The primary reason, of course, is that, when the Church calls for unity, we are speaking biblical language:
- Psalm 133 – “it is good for brothers to dwell in unity”
- John 17:21-23 – “may they be one even as you [the Father] and I [Jesus Himself] are one”
- Ephesians 4:3 – “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit”
- Romans 12:16 – “live in harmony with one another”
- 1 Peter 3:8 – “all of you, have unity of mind”
- Colossians 3:14 – “put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony”
- …and many, many more.
So why would the Scripture emphasize unity among believers so strongly?
A unity among followers of God reflects the underlying Trinitarian nature of God Himself. Nothing is more foundational to our faith than the proclamation of God as Three-in-One. In the Trinity, the diversity of Three Persons [Father, Son, and Spirit] is united in One God. This profound mystery cannot be grasped by our human minds, but it can be modeled, and is so, when the Church functions as one.
Christian unity also flows from our understanding of salvation, what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Providing a means of forgiveness of sin, reconciling us with God and with one another, redeeming us from our guilt… all this and so much more, is part of the salvation that is available to every human being. There is no distinction, for all have fallen and are in need of the exact same work of Christ (see Romans chapter 3). We are “one” on the most fundamental level because our need is the same, and the redemption is the same.
In one of the more powerful prayers recorded in Scripture, Jesus provides us insight into another reason for the importance of unity—as a witness to the world. In John chapter 17, Jesus says twice that “the world will know” of God’s love and salvation because of the unity of God’s people. Think about that. In some marvelous way, God has made it so that the Gospel will spread and take hold powerfully because of the unity shown between believers. Of course, with shame, we would have to acknowledge that so much of the world does not yet know, and we need to wonder if our very visible lack of unity has contributed to this delay in the Gospel’s proclamation.
There are other biblical reasons for the stress upon unity—the necessity of cooperation in the body of Christ for the Church to function correctly, a demonstration of the power of the Gospel to cross cultural boundaries, a manifestation of spiritual maturity as believers maintain unity through humility, patience, and love—but I hope that these suffice to challenge each of us to pursue unity with great vigor and faithfulness.
We see in this week’s sermon text, Acts 4:32-37, the importance of unity once again.
- What does it mean to be of “one heart and soul,” and how does this level of unity directly impact our willingness to share our possessions? (verse 32)
- How did the testimony regarding the resurrection of Jesus (verse 33) act as the foundation for the community’s radical, voluntary generosity? (verses 33-34)
- In verse 33, how are the two clauses connected? How is the testimony of the apostles linked with great grace?
- What practical steps can we take to ensure “there were no needy persons among us?” (verses 34-35)
- How does living with an “open hand” regarding our money and time, like the early believers, serve as a powerful witness to the world today? (verses 32-37)
By Henry Knapp