Unity According to Jesus vs. Unity According to the World

The other day I was sitting with two gentlemen. We were about to work on something together and, while we were waiting to get started, we talked. The conversation was very ordinary, and then we veered to the topic of politics. It was election week and we were a little hesitant to “go there.” One of the guys shared which candidate he voted for, then the other guy shared which candidate he voted for. They had not voted for the same person, but the conversation and environment still seemed ordinary and easy. I had not voted for the same person as either of these guys, but since the conversation was still calm I decided to throw out who I voted for. Then, nothing changed. The conversation continued in the ordinary and easy way it had been going. I don’t know how the other guys felt, but I spent the rest of the day in a bit of shock and awe at how we were able to converse and remain easy while discussing a potentially divisive topic. It was very refreshing and it made me want to learn more about unity.

Unity is definitely an important word for Christians to consider, define, pray about, and strive for in our time. “Complete unity” is what Jesus prayed for just before He went to the cross. Inspired by the Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to “pursue,” “strive for,” “make every effort for” unity. The Psalmist of the Old Testament sings about “how good and pleasing it is when God’s people live together in unity.” And we all know that our experience declares the same thing. (For example, to be united with your children is so good compared to the moment of disunity that happens as soon as you ask them where they want to go eat.)

Though unity is very important, I have discovered there are different kinds of unity being called for these days. The world and its leaders are calling for a unity that is very different from the unity that the kingdom of heaven and its King are calling for.

Here are some things we know about this unity that Jesus calls for:

1. Our differences are the starting place for unity.
The Greek word used in Jesus’ unity prayer is, “teleioō” which adds a connotation of being completed as one. The word Paul uses to describe unity in Christ is, “katartizō” and it has a connotation of mending, as if gluing the fractured pieces back together. Thinking differently, looking differently, and feeling differently are not roadblocks to unity—they are ingredients to unity. So, that is good news for Christians in America.

2. It is only possible and only required within the family of Christ.
Jesus’ prayer for unity was clearly for His disciples and those who would follow Jesus after them. Paul’s admonitions toward unity were clearly directed to the church of Jesus Christ. Christians are called to love everyone—but we are not called to be united with everyone. Christians are called to love our enemies, but the call to unify applies to those who are truly brothers or sisters in Christ. Remember: at one point Jesus said, “I have not come to bring peace to the world, but a sword.” Those who receive Christ’s Lordship and the empowerment of His indwelling Spirit can have the peace that He gives; but those who do not will be divided—and Christians should stay divided from them. Paul wrote about the importance of Christians not even eating with someone who claims to be in Christ, but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. This is a different kind of unity.

3. Prayer is vital for softening the divided hearts as well as empowering them to unite.
You can’t go wrong here. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers. Paul’s admonitions were also prayers that the churches would unite with each other and strive for unity in decisions and actions. They both knew the only way any of us will be able to mend deep divides and react well in moments of offense is to be filled with God’s Spirit. Prayer is the best way to be filled with God’s Spirit. (So, what are you waiting for? You can pray now before continuing to read.)

4. Unity will not be easy; it will require sacrifice, and it is not a” one and done” type of thing.
Jesus prayed His prayer for unity at a time when He Himself was wrestling to unite His will with His Father’s will. The intensity of that prayer time caused Him to sweat blood. Jesus knows firsthand how intense and stressful it can be to strive for unity. To gain unity with other believers is to gain the will of God, and it will take striving and straining. Paul uses the word strive in His calls for unity because He knows it will not happen without great determination and consistent effort.

The unity Jesus wants us to prioritize as believers is not “unity at all cost.” There is right and wrong, and there is good and evil. We are not to be united with the world, because that would cause us to be at war with God. But we do need to understand and live out “unity at the cross.”

When it comes to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to defer to one another in love. We need to listen and consider one another above ourselves. We need to create environments where we can speak freely without fear of harmful reactivity. If we can do this consistently and patiently, we can find the will of God. And once we find God’s will, we will find none of us are as right as we think we are. We will also find it much easier to unite, because the will of God is always good and beautiful, and always results in the flourishing of the good and beautiful.

By His grace and for His glory,

David