Unity is a much celebrated, little practiced, Christian ideal! In every part of life, including religion, Americans have a hard time setting aside their individualism, their competitiveness, and their 'rights' for the greater good. We are quick to resist any suggestion that we can accomplish more by becoming a part of an organization, and yet the Bible calls on Believers to be 'submissive to one another out of reverence for Christ.'
One of the more difficult things that I have to do as a Pastor is to confront Believers with two important sides to their spiritual experience- being "in" the Church and being part of our church. We come into the Church, the universal Body of Christ, when we receive Christ by faith and are baptized. The Word teaches us that the old lines that separated us - race, ethnicity, sex, social status - are erased by baptism and we become one in Him. But, there is more! We also find maximum effectiveness as a Believer when we join a local church, finding a place to use our gifts, are taught the Word, and find accountability that keeps us from the folly of a highly privatized faith.
I was trying to emphasize the importance of being part of the local congregation in a dialogue with a person in the church. The conversation teetered towards a painful collision. As I encouraged greater participation in our local church, the other person thought I was questioning the reality of their faith! Many Believers are not clear about the two expressions of unity - one with the Church universal, and the other with the church, the local congregation. The conflict drove me to prayerful introspection. I asked the Lord, "How can I encourage a growing unity in a culture that is so committed to personal rights and prerogatives? Is real unity possible?" His whispered reply in my heart was this: "It is not shared mission, nor even clear vision, but rather shared passion for Christ!" There it is - for me- for us all. We surrender our individuality to one another in God's work, not for a program or a pastor, but because we love Jesus deeply. Loving Him trumps all of our personal needs and/or desires.
Are you 'connected' to the Body of Christ or are you attempting that uniquely American style of Christianity that ignores the importance of the Church, preferring a highly privatized spirituality? Theoretically we can be a Christian without going to church, without joining with others to use our gifts and resources in Christian work, but we will NEVER be ALL we could be for God if we are "Lone Rangers" for Jesus! Our experiences in church makes us understand that unity is not all 'sweetness and light.' The quirks of our brethren and 'sisteren' will aggravate us and even hurt us from time to time. People, even sincere and good Christians, will miss our expectations, be selfish and leave a sour taste. Pastors will fail morally. Church leaders will act egotistically. All of this might tempt us to abandon our quest for deep, mutually encouraging friendships if we did not keep our focus on our shared love of Jesus Christ. But, when we step over our pride, our self-sufficiency, pushing radical individualism to the side; we find the delight of shared passion, the ministry empowerment that emerges from our unique spiritual giftings, the refreshing that comes from the other person's different expression of worship and love.
Here's what the Word says. "....I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift . . ." - Ephesians 4: 1-8 The Message
Commit to your church as faithful member, a working part of the local congregation. As you worship, look around at your 'family' and thank God for each one: the old, the young, the weird, the conforming, the formal, the uninhibited, the mystic with his visions, the practical one with his plans, the singer, the reader, the server, the smiler, the frowner, the wealthy, the poor, the 'all together' and the dysfunctional.... It's your family in Christ!You can choose your friends, but not your family. Live in mutual submission to Christ and make unity more than a Christian ideal!
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NKJV) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)
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