there are two kinds of people: those who love Jesus and those who don't. those who love Jesus do not have "unity" in mind per se. no, these Christians, as we are called, have one end all goal: to be like Jesus. to be honest, being like Jesus trumps all other desires. unity is not the end all goal. if unity is the only thing Christians strive for, then Christ is not where He needs to be.
see this picture?
these fountains are in unity. they are all coming from different angles at different times at different intensities, but you know what? they're in unity...and it's gorgeous.
unity doesn't call for agreement, it calls for humility.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Eph 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
i ask, what comes before the mention of unity? humility, gentleness, patience, and love. these things are followed by the pursuit of unity.
clearly there are guidelines as to how unity is to be brought about, but unfortunately we're all big wads of ego and want our own version of unity, not the "one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father." that Scripture calls for. we'd rather interject our thought's over God's; a very dangerous place to be.
humility is first and foremost. if we recognize ourselves as the authors of unity, we will provide a cicumstance for disunity and arrogance rather than humility.
this is where we are most likely to err, so i would encourage all in the quest for unity to first off seek humility in the life of Jesus and throughout the Scriptures. also remember that God is the author of order and unity, and that nothing will come about without Him making it go down.
see this picture?
these fountains are in unity. they are all coming from different angles at different times at different intensities, but you know what? they're in unity...and it's gorgeous.
unity doesn't call for agreement, it calls for humility.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Eph 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--
Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
i ask, what comes before the mention of unity? humility, gentleness, patience, and love. these things are followed by the pursuit of unity.
clearly there are guidelines as to how unity is to be brought about, but unfortunately we're all big wads of ego and want our own version of unity, not the "one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father." that Scripture calls for. we'd rather interject our thought's over God's; a very dangerous place to be.
humility is first and foremost. if we recognize ourselves as the authors of unity, we will provide a cicumstance for disunity and arrogance rather than humility.
this is where we are most likely to err, so i would encourage all in the quest for unity to first off seek humility in the life of Jesus and throughout the Scriptures. also remember that God is the author of order and unity, and that nothing will come about without Him making it go down.
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