Unity in the Body of Christ
JESUS, HAVING FINISHED HIS WORK ON EARTH (Joh_17:4), continued to agonize over the condition of His disciples, even the evening before His death.
Jealousy led to arguments over who was the greatest and who would be assigned the highest positions in Christ's kingdom. Jesus' explanation that humility was the substance of His kingdom, and that true followers of His would be servants, willingly giving of themselves with no expectation of even thanks in return, seemed to have fallen on deaf ears (Luk_17:10). Even the example He set, stooping to wash their feet when none of them would do it because of the implications, seemed to have been in vain (see 1Co_10:16-17- The Lord's Supper).
Jesus is Love. It was His sympathy that kept the masses following Him. Not understanding this unselfish love, His disciples were filled with strong prejudices toward non-Jews, women, "sinners," and the poor, which blinded them to the allencompassing love of Christ even toward these detested ones. When the disciples found Him conversing with a Samaritan woman of ill-repute, they had not yet learned that the fields, ripe for harvest, include grain of all varieties, ready to be reaped.
But Christ could not be swayed by tradition, public opinion, or even family control. His irrepressible love reached down and restored broken humanity. Such love, which would set them apart from the careless public, would be the evidence of being true disciples. As He loved, they were to love. The world would forever be able to distinguish Christians-not because of their profession, but because of the revelation of Christ's love in them (cf. Joh_13:34-35).
So even in the garden of Gethsemane the main thing on Christ's mind was the unity of His church-those who had come "out of the world" (Joh_17:6). He pleaded with His Father for a unity in the 172church similar to that which the Godhead experienced. I pray "'that they all [His followers] may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me'" (Joh_17:21).
Such unity is the church's most powerful witnessing tool, for it gives evidence of Christ's unselfish love for humanity. Said He, "'I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me'" (Joh_17:23).
Bible Unity and the Church
What kind of unity did Christ have in mind for the visible church today? How is such love and unity possible? What is its foundation? What are its constituents? Does it demand uniformity or allow for diversity? How does unity function?
Unity of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the moving force behind church unity. Through Him believers are led to the church. By Him they are "all baptized into one body" (1Co_12:13). These baptized members are to have a unity Paul described as "the unity of the Spirit" (Eph_4:3).
The apostle listed the basic components of the unity of the Spirit: "There is one body and one Spirit," he said, "just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph_4:4-6). The sevenfold repetition of the word one emphasizes the complete unity Paul envisioned.
Calling them from every nationality and race, the Holy Spirit baptizes people into one body-the body of Christ, the church. As they grow into Christ cultural differences are no longer divisive. The Holy Spirit breaks down barriers between high and low, rich and poor, male and female. Realizing that in God's sight they are all equal, they hold one another in esteem.
This unity functions on the corporate level also. It means that local churches everywhere are equal, even though some are recipients of money and missionaries from other countries. Such a spiritual union knows no hierarchy. Nationals and missionaries are equal before God.
The united church has one hope-the "blessed hope" of salvation that will be realized at the "glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit_2:13). This hope is a source of peace and joy, and provides a powerful motive for united witness (Mat_24:14). It leads to transformation, for "everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1Jo_3:3).
Through a common faith-personal faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ-that all become a part of the body. The one baptism that symbolizes Christ's death and resurrection (Rom_6:3-6) perfectly expresses this faith, witnessing of a union with Christ's body.
Finally, Scripture teaches that there is one Spirit, one Lord, and one God and Father. 173All aspects of church unity find their foundation in the oneness of the triune God. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all" (1Co_12:4-6).
The Extent of Unity. Believers experience a unity of mind and judgment. Notice the following exhortations: "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom_15:5-6). "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1Co_1:10). "Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you" (2Co_13:11).
God's church, then, ought to reveal a unity of feeling, thought, and action. Does this mean that members should have identical feelings, thoughts, and actions? Does Biblical unity imply uniformity?
Unity in Diversity. Biblical unity does not mean uniformity. The Biblical metaphor of the human body demonstrates that the church's unity exists in diversity.
The body has many organs, all contributing to the optimal performance of the body. Each fulfills a vital, though different, task; none are useless.
This same principle operates in the church. God distributes His gifts "to each one individually as He wills" (1Co_12:11), creating a healthy diversity that benefits the congregation. Not all members think alike, nor are they qualified to perform the same work. All, however, function under the direction of the same Spirit, building up the church to the best of their God-given abilities.
To accomplish its mission, the church needs the contributions of all the gifts. Together, they provide a total evangelistic thrust. The success of the church does not depend on each member's being the same and doing the same as every other member; rather, it depends on all the members performing their God-assigned tasks.
In nature the vine with its branches provides an illustration of unity in diversity. Jesus used the metaphor of the vine to depict the believer's union with Himself (Joh_15:1-6). The branches, the believers, are the extensions of the True Vine-Christ. Like every branch and leaf, each individual Christian differs from the others, yet a oneness exists, since all receive their nourishment from the same source, the Vine. The branches of the vine are individually separate and do not blend into each other: yet each branch will be in fellowship with the others if they are joined to the same parent stalk.174They all receive nourishment from the same source: assimilating the same life-giving properties.
So Christian unity depends on the grafting of the members into Christ. From Him comes the power that vitalizes Christian life. He is the source of the talent and power necessary to accomplish the church's task. Being linked to Him shapes the tastes, habits, and lifestyles of all Christians. Through Him, all members are linked to one another, and joined in a common mission. As the members abide in Him, selfishness is driven away and Christian unity is established, enabling them to accomplish His mission.
So while there are different temperaments in the church, all work under one Head. While there are many gifts, there is but one Spirit. Though the gifts differ, there is harmonious action. "It is the same God who works all in all" (1Co_12:6).
Unity of Faith. Diversity of gifts does not mean a diversity of beliefs, however. In the last days God's church will be composed of a people who share a platform of the everlasting gospel-their lives characterized by the observance of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Rev_14:12). Together they proclaim to the world God's invitation to salvation.