Union, Unity, and Uniformity
In the book of Philippians, Paul puts a premium on unity. For example, in chapter 1 he says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). In chapter 2, Paul concludes, “Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one mind” (Phil. 2:1-2). Paul exhorts believers to be of “one mind,” an obvious reference to unity, but just exactly what is unity?
Unity does not mean union. Simply connecting two things together is union, but union is not unity. Tying two cats together by their tails and throwing them over a clothesline is union, but not unity.
Unity does not mean uniformity. It does not mean that everyone
in the group has to have the same opinion about everything. Believers are
brothers, not identical twins. Brothers have different opinions.
For example, believers can have different political views and
still have unity. Just as there are some believers today who are Republicans, while others are Democrats and still others are independents, there were different political views among the apostles. Most were loyal Jews who wanted the Romans out of their country. The Jews hated the Romans. The apostles thought for a long time that Jesus was going to set up a political kingdom that would get the Romans out of their country. At the same time, one of the apostles was Matthew, who collected taxes for the Romans! He worked for the Romans. The apostles surely had some interesting political discussions.
“The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion”
(John F. Kennedy).
Unity means being united on a particular issue. It is having the same thoughts and feelings about something, but not necessarily everything. In Philippians, Paul is urging believers to be united in the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). Although the apostles had different political views, they were united in their opinion about Jesus Christ and the gospel.
Believers are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). An Arabic proverb says, “Unity is power.” One’s personal preferences should not be used to cause dissension or division within a church. Churches are built by people pulling together; churches are destroyed by people pulling apart. The church is the body of Christ and there should be no bone of contention in that body.
A visitor to a mental hospital was astonished to note that there
were only three guards watching over hundreds of dangerous inmates. He asked, “Don’t you feel these people will overpower the guards and escape?” “No,” was the reply,“lunatics never unite.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/18/2011
Unity does not mean union. Simply connecting two things together is union, but union is not unity. Tying two cats together by their tails and throwing them over a clothesline is union, but not unity.
Unity does not mean uniformity. It does not mean that everyone
in the group has to have the same opinion about everything. Believers are
brothers, not identical twins. Brothers have different opinions.
For example, believers can have different political views and
still have unity. Just as there are some believers today who are Republicans, while others are Democrats and still others are independents, there were different political views among the apostles. Most were loyal Jews who wanted the Romans out of their country. The Jews hated the Romans. The apostles thought for a long time that Jesus was going to set up a political kingdom that would get the Romans out of their country. At the same time, one of the apostles was Matthew, who collected taxes for the Romans! He worked for the Romans. The apostles surely had some interesting political discussions.
“The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion”
(John F. Kennedy).
Unity means being united on a particular issue. It is having the same thoughts and feelings about something, but not necessarily everything. In Philippians, Paul is urging believers to be united in the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). Although the apostles had different political views, they were united in their opinion about Jesus Christ and the gospel.
Believers are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). An Arabic proverb says, “Unity is power.” One’s personal preferences should not be used to cause dissension or division within a church. Churches are built by people pulling together; churches are destroyed by people pulling apart. The church is the body of Christ and there should be no bone of contention in that body.
A visitor to a mental hospital was astonished to note that there
were only three guards watching over hundreds of dangerous inmates. He asked, “Don’t you feel these people will overpower the guards and escape?” “No,” was the reply,“lunatics never unite.”
© G. Michael Cocoris, 12/18/2011