Unity is a state that is often discussed but rarely achieved. Political leaders talk about the importance of being united against common enemies, yet rarely seem to be able to agree as to what a united front actually means. Corporate leaders discuss the importance of “every one being on the same page” although it often seems like they are reading from different books. Coaches emphasize the need to pursue a common goal but in an age of athletic celebrity, increasingly younger players are more concerned about what the game means for their career than the pursuit of a team victory. Unity is touted as the ideal, but truly unity seems to be the stuff of dreams and speeches.
This same misappropriation of the concept of unity is often found in churches. Some think that unity means never causing a stir – quietly assenting to what others do and say so as to not rock the boat. Others believe that unity consists of everyone agreeing with them, and they search for the church where that will be true. Still others focus on the biblical concept of each member using their gifts for the purposes of God’s Kingdom – knowing that if we are focused on the same goal, eventually that will draw us together.
One aspect of biblical unity though that is rarely discussed is that it is hard to be united when some of the pieces are broken. As Ephesians 4 reminds us, in order for us to be “one body” each part has to be “working properly” (v. 4, 16). When one part isn’t, when one part is “off track” because of sin in their life or ambivalence in their walk with God, the whole body suffers. If even one saint is not “working properly” the unity of the body of Christ suffers (Eph. 4:16).
Yet in a culture whose mandate seems to be “to each their own” it is difficult to know how to address these broken parts. We are much more comfortable providing solace to those that are hurting than we are in addressing other’s departures from God’s commands. We don’t want to be seen as “judgmental” or “hypocritical” – for we are all too familiar with our own foibles and temptations. Yet when we don’t speak up – when we don’t loving ensure that each part is functioning as it should – we do a disservice not only to to the person who we refuse to hold accountable, we do a disservice to the rest of the body as we allow one part to languish so that our comfort and convenience can be maintained.
What does this mean practically? It means that when we see a fellow believer who is being “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” we, “speaking the truth in love” seek to correctly set that part of the body on the truth of God’s Word, much like a doctor sets a bone so it can properly be restored to full use and function (Eph. 4:13-15). It means that “to each their own” shouldn’t be a part of the Christian’s vocabulary, because every fellow believer is not their own; they have been “bought with a price” just as we are (See I Cor. 6:19-20). It means that we care enough not only about the growth of that individual believer, but also the growth of the Church as a whole that we are intent on building it up in love. We are not content to let any part of the body atrophy because we know that if we do, it diminishes the effectiveness of the Body as a whole.
Immediately prior to the discussion of how we should speak the truth in love and the importance of each part of the Body functioning as it should, Paul reminds his audience of how they should live. He exhorts them to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in tthe bond of peace” (See Eph. 4:1-3) May this be how we walk, and as a result may the Body of Christ be ever more effective in doing the work that Christ calls us to do.