Unity!

Unity!

Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ASV

It is difficult to imagine how possible it is for the body of Christ to be truly united. We have several denominations emphasizing different parts of the Bible, giving the impression that Christ came to establish different versions of Truth. We now see church leaders and members quarrel over the interpretations of the truth revealed in God's word, as if the inspiration behind the words was confused and didn't know what he was saying.

Paul encourages us to be of the same mind. How is that possible? Only when indeed, we have the same person living inside of us. Church membership is not the same as heaven citizenship. Just as a passport on the face discloses the country of issue, so must the identity I profess be evident from my conversation, conduct and company. If I claim I am a citizen of heaven, how will I be quarreling with others who are fellow citizens, unless I do not know where I am from or where I am going. If I claim to know the head of the place I am going, how do I quarrel with his own children, of whom I am also one?

This is not a denial of differences in opinions or approach to issues; but we have matured enough to see that what lies ahead is bigger and better than what is between us. We must understand that the world is watching and waiting; it does not understand God, and we who claim to know God must bring his message to the dying world around us. If we then are already dead on arrival, how much impact can we then make? The world needs to see unity in diversity at its best; the world does not know how, Christ is the one who makes it possible, and only in him do we make our lives count in this present generation. His time of favour is here.