This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. -- Ephesians 4: 13 (NLT)
It has become in vogue in the modern church to preach unity for unity's sake. Scripture does clearly indicate that it is God's desire for there to be unity within the body of Christ. Unfortunately what is often overlooked is what we are to be unified by and for.
Today's verse makes the point very clear. Our unity is supposed to be in our faith and the knowledge of God's Son. Not about a religion. Not about a denomination. Not about a church. Our agreement is to be firmly rooted in our faith in God not man. It is to be firmly rooted in the Word of God, not the latest fads. Today's verse also makes it clear that there is a goal for the unity. It is so that we can all become mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. That may sound like a tall order but that is the point about unity. Together we can strive more effectively towards the goal -- of becoming more Christlike. If we are unified by striving to be more Christlike then we avoid the politics of man and the religiosity of this age. By doing so, those walking in darkness will want the light they see in us. That is the point of being unified.
If someone I care about is driving off of a cliff, it is not my responsibility to hold their hand on the way down and tell them everything is going to be ok. It is my responsibility to help them avoid going off the cliff to begin with. Unity rooted in agreement of personality is not unity at all. Unity rooted in agreement of doctrine is what strengthens faith and knowledge of God's Son. It is what matures us. I possess no absolute truth on my own -- only through the Word of God. Let us celebrate that today. Let us unify behind that.
Rev. Anthony.
