It is quite obvious that the world in which we live is anything but unified. Ours is a divided society. Sadder yet is the lack of unity that exists among religious people. In most communities, even those communities that are rather small, there exists several different religious groups—all claiming to give honor to Jesus, and yet, teaching different things. God is not happy with religious division. In fact, He hates division! In John 17, Jesus prayed that this religious division would not be seen, because if religious division occurs, people lose sight and confidence in Jesus (John 17:21). God is the God of unity! The Father sent the Son in order to make unity (2 Corinthians 5:19). The church in Corinth, many Centuries ago, was faced all kinds of division. God was not pleased, and He sent a letter by the quill of the apostle Paul to correct the division. The Holy Spirit’s response to division will help us to be united.
The Possibility of Unity
Paul’s inspired ink begins with affirming, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV). Notice carefully how clear Paul was that religious unity is possible! Many today seem to love religious division and are heard to say, “You believe your thing and I will believe mine.” However, that is the very opposite of what Paul penned. Unity consists of harmony, accord and agreement. The word that Jesus used for unity was “one” (John 17:20–21). Yet today, religiously, there is very little agreement. Later in this same book, Paul illustrated unity by using the human body as an example (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). It is easy to see with the human body how unity exists; the body is controlled by the head! In fact, if something happens to a person’s head, by way of injury or disease, they often cannot walk, talk, feed themselves, etc. because the head is not able to control the body. In other words, there is a disconnect between the control center and the body.
The Place of Unity
What is the Lord’s desire for His people today? A confederation of churches in a synod or conference? How about different churches teaching different things and wearing different names? The place of unity since the Pentecost of Acts 2 has always been the local congregation (1 Corinthians 1:2). There were not many places of proper worship in Corinth when Paul wrote. Nor did Paul write to many churches in that region. Why? Because God never authorized a plurality of churches with different doctrines, heads and practices! In the New Testament, there were simply congregations joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. When anything else was present, God condemned it! Today, we see men promoting union of all different believes and practices in the name of unity. Simply being in union, though, is not unity. Let me illustrate. Tie the tails of two cats together and throw them over a clothesline. Dear friend, you will have union, but not unity! (No cats were actually harmed in this illustration.)
The Plan for Unity
When Paul penned First Corinthians, there was division present because people had put their emphasis in the wrong places. They had put their emphasis on men; “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Cephas” (1 Corinthians 1:12). When men become the focus, division reigns! The church is not about preacher so and so or elder so and so. The church is not about brother so and so or sister so and so’s uncle. Our emphasis must be on Christ and Christ alone! Paul nailed this point home in 1 Corinthians 1:18–25; 2:1–2). When Paul illustrated the church by the human body, his emphasis was again on the Head (See also Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22–23). The Head is the way we “speak the same things” (1 Corinthians 1:10). The Head is the way we practice the same things (John 4:24). In fact, the entire worship of the church is all about the Head! Is that not what the Lord’s Supper is all about? We come together in unity to commune and celebrate the Head (1 Corinthians 11:23-30)! We sing to extol the Head (1 Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16–17). We preach to illuminate the Head (1 Corinthians 1:23-30). We give to glorify the Head (1 Corinthians 16:1–2). We pray to thank the Head (1 Corinthians 1:3). Of course, our entire lives glorify the Head, Who is Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 10:23–33).
Unity is not an accident! Unity is a determined effort centered in and on Jesus our King (Ephesians 4:1–2). Unity is an amazing sight to behold (Psalm 133). The only way for unity to exist in congregations of God’s people is for Christ to have preeminence (Colossians 1:18). Why are there so many differing religious bodies today? Why do some congregations of God’s people not have the peace and unity from above? John the Immerser said it best, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). When Christ’s servants are on their knees and Christ is lifted, true biblical unity will be present. “How sweet, how heavenly is the sight, when those that love the Lord, in one another’s peace delight, and so fulfill the Word”!
