Why is unity so important? It is important for so many different reasons. The main reason for me is simply that Jesus calls for it in the scriptures. Jesus taught that we should love one another and if we are loving one another then unity will naturally follow. I could spend all day talking about the things that break down unity but I would rather consider the benefits.
You know, I don't think people really stop to consider the people we have all around us, especially in the church. The church in the scriptures is referred to as the body of Christ and each member of the body has a unique purpose. It is interesting that when a part of the body turns against the rest of the body it is generally surgically removed. We don't usually do this in the church, although members turn against one another all the time, usually over stupid things that mean nothing in the view of eternity.
Our churches and communities would be so much stronger if we were united, truly loving one anther from the heart. We simply need to set aside our differences or our perceived differences so that we can concentrate on those things that make us the same. Simply being disciples of Jesus, should be enough to keep us together. I can't see how we can consider ourselves disciples and not do the things He has asked us to do. He simply wants us to love one another. He doesn't ask us to find people who are just like we are, I don't think it has anything to do with us, but has everything to do with us seeing Jesus in each other.
I see this all the time when working with the youth, it is like they constantly are looking for the very things that can keep them apart instead of looking at the very thing that should unite them. It kills me because they do not yet have the eyes to look past the here and now and to look at the future. The things that they are "into" today are not the things that they will be "into" next week. My prayer is that the youth of today will be able to set aside their differences so that they can unite one with another in love with Jesus being the glue.
Lord, bring unity to your church! Cleanse hearts and help us to focus on You. Be the glue that unites us and protect us from the enemy who wants nothing more than to separate us so that he can destroy us. Lord these young ones need you and they need each other, please show them how they can unite to follow You. Give them grace for one another so that they can get beyond the silly things and see the Truth for what it is.
Please join with me in praying for unity!
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2 comments:
Amen!!!
I couldn't agree more.
I grew up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and while I still have a great deal of respect for the church and its theology, it refused communion fellowship with any other churches (including Lutheran denominations) and had a strong belief in "our doctrine on every issue is the correct one and we can't fellowship directly with anyone who disagrees with us."
Having now worked a great deal cross-denominationally in compassion ministry, I see more than ever the need for unity. The challenges facing the Church today - whether it be poverty, social issues like abortion, or just about anything else - cannot be met unless we pool our time, energy and resources and work together. Our enemy does all kinds of damage by keeping all of us working on our own little projects rather than joining together and making a bigger impact.
Most recently, I've been frustrated by a couple of missionaries who left one of our children's homes due (in large part) to personal differences, differences in perspectives or personality conflicts, and rather than just moving to another ministry, they have actively disparaged our own ministry and have, in some cases, drawn a lot of support away from us. Why can't we all engage in our own ministries and support each other, without trying to tear someone else down? I don't get it.
Benson
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