Unity

 

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53)

Whenever there’s a crisis – even a made-up crisis – one of the calls that rings forth is that we need to unite to solve the problem, survive the disaster, or otherwise make it through said crisis. And, as Christians, we’re called to be united as the Body of Christ.

The problem is, when calls go out to be united, there’s always a side to which we’re supposed to unite. Technically, that makes perfect sense. To be united, we all need to move together in the same direction. The problem, of course, is the direction we need to move. When others insist that we should all unite, I sometimes say, “Great idea, follow me.”

And they all look at me like I must be insane. My goal isn’t necessarily to have them do what I want. It’s to point out that their desire isn’t for unity, it’s for obedience to them.

Jesus repeatedly spoke of our being separate from the world, but united in love with other believers. We’re to love our enemies and pray for them, but not be united to them. But even with the call for us to be united with other believers, in Acts, the Church leadership made it clear that while we are to be united in love and obedient to the teachings of Christ, there’s room for a lot of diversity within that unity.

If Jesus didn’t teach general unity, but instead taught division, perhaps we should listen.