Passions, which are good things, can often lead to discord. Scripture calls for God’s church to be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose in unity of faith (Ephesians 4:13). How? By being passionately sure of the following:
- To Be Unified, Christians Must Focus on the Right Resources
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion (Phil. 2:1)
- God has given us encouragement in Christ. The word “encouragement” means to come alongside, give assistance by offering comfort, counsel, or help. We are unified because we have in common the same friend, the same comforter, the same encourager. For each of us, Christ comes alongside to walk us through the pains and the struggles of life, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:19).
- God has given us comfort from Christ’s love. Each believer became a recipient of Christ’s love at spiritual birth (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). We are not only comforted in forgiveness, but freed of fear: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18) ranging from the material to the spiritual aspects of life.
- God has given us fellowship with the Spirit: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13). Christ used a similar word to “encouragement” in referring to the Holy Spirit and His ministry to us: “paraclete”—our counselor, our advocate, our helper (John 15:26). As the Spirit works with us personally, we must also employ Him socially (Ephesians 4:3) all for the same end: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
- God has given us tenderness and compassion: the ability to feel somebody’s pain or hurt with them through trials (1 John 3:17).
- To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Attitudes
Disunity begins in the heart, progressing to the mind, will, emotions and acted out in our actions and reactions, therefore:
…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:2)
- Believers must have the same thoughts. Paul says that believers must be “like-minded.” It literally means “to think the same thing” (Phil. 2:5). The mind of Christ is further clarified in Philippians 2:7 where it says that Christ took the very nature of a “servant.” He didn’t come to earth to be served, he came to serve. That is the type of mindset each believer must develop in order to be unified in the church.
- Believers must have the same loving attitude. Agape love is an act of the will (Romans 5:8, 10); a sacrificial love (1 John 2:16); a practical love (Romans 10:12, 13).
- Believers must be united in spirit. The word “united” means “one-souled” literally to care for one another as though we were caring for ourselves (Mark 12:31: “…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…)
- Believers must have the same purpose which is the Gospel: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
- To Be Unified, Christians Must Develop the Right Practices
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
- Believers must practice forsaking selfish ambition and vain conceit. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16) which prompts to:
- Survey and question our motives (Matthew 6:1-4);
- Ask God to test our motives (Psalm 139:23-24);
- Believers must practice the humility of a servant. The word “humility” in Greek was used exclusively in a derisive way, describing what was considered base, common, unfit, and having little value. This is very countercultural given we live in a culture of “self-esteem” yet we humble ourselves to advance Christ (1 Cor. 9:19);
- Believers must take care of their own personal interests in order to have unity. There is a proper balance of taking care of ourselves in order to better serve God and others (Mark 1:35). Paul does not teach us to eliminate our interests all together. He says that we should not only look to our own interests.
- Believers must look out for the interests of others in order to have unity. Consider what Hebrews says about how the church should function: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
If believers are going to be unified, they must have the right resources, attitudes and practice. They must forsake selfish ambition and vain glory. They must practice the humility of a servant. They must take care of their own interests in obedience to God, and finally they must look out for the interests of others. These are essentials for unity.