United We Stand

“Working Together as a Local Church”

Sometimes a particular idea or word will continue to pop up in your life whether it’s podcasts you listen to, sermons, your Bible reading, or whatever. A word that has been repeatedly turning up in my life has been “unity.” It’s something I have been praying for a lot lately in regards to the leaders of our church.

Unity can be good or bad. Groups in our culture today unify against common goals that as Christians is against our moral and religious beliefs.

Everywhere you turn it seems people are putting themselves in groups whether it’s things such as denomination or political party or what car brand they think is better than the others. Sometimes this unity is necessary and needful, but most often it seems these types of unity actually cause division across the country.

What about in the church? Specifically your local church? The unity we pursue as Christians is in the Truth – the Word of God.

What Causes Disunity?

Some reasons for the disintegration of unity in the church include:

• lack of prayer (this one should be mentioned first),
• gossip (this one definitely warrants second place),
• behind-the-scenes coups against another church member or staff member,
• power groups (often generational families of the church),
• fear of confrontation whether it’s confronting church bullies or problems in the church,
• hypercritical members (nothing can be done the way they think it should),
• and self-serving church members (everything must be done their way).

All of these things and many more are detrimental to the church’s unity.

Oftentimes most church members may be in the dark as to the disunity that exists. This could be because they attend irregularly, are not actively involved, or refrain from fellowshipping with others in the church.

What do you do about it if you know of disunity? Foremost, I suggest praying about. Secondly, make sure your pastor is aware. Yes, you may prefer to not “bother” him with the issues, but if it REALLY is a concern, he needs to know. He is the shepherd, and the members of his church are his flock. He wants to know when there are problems or trouble stirring.

Disunity doesn’t always exist, but you can be sure it is always trying to manifest itself whether by the work of the devil or a member who is not living in the Spirit (or may be unsaved). It is obviously something that is a threat which is why it is taught in the Bible.

The local church is unique, because it is made up of people from various diverse backgrounds whether culturally, socially, economically, age, educationally, etc. They have been raised differently and often have different opinions on many topics.

Yet despite all our differences we are called by Jesus Christ to be one in Him. As Christians we all have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and therefore, share the same Father, God (1 Corinthians 12:13). Therein lies our commonality. We are spiritual brothers and sisters. We are siblings in God’s eternal family as His children.

How to Have Unity

The wonderful thing about the Bible is that no matter the issue, it will have the answer. Paul taught quite a bit about unity as proof of the gospel and our love for Jesus. To be united with our Lord, we should love what He loves and hate what He hates.

Ephesians 4:1-4
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”

“The first step towards unity is humility; without this there will be no meekness, no patience, or forbearance; and without these no unity. Pride and passion break the peace, and make all the mischief. Humility and meekness restore the peace, and keep it. Only by pride comes contention; only by humility comes love.”

~ Matthew Henry

To stand united together as a local church, we must be likeminded in our doctrines/beliefs, our devotions, and our direction of the church (Romans 15:5).

Unity is imperative for a church when problems arise. Unity prevents a church from dividing. Unity strengthens a church as it comes out on the other side after a trial.

As a member of the local church, we must do our part to bring unity among its body of believers. We must be walking daily in the Spirit which includes praying for our pastoral staff, our church body, and our role as we serve. We need to deny our fleshly desires daily (Luke 9:23).

Remember we are one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we should be exhibiting even with those who are completely different from us. We are to love each other as Christ loves us (John 15:12). Living this way would unite us as brothers and sisters in Christ and keep us standing together for the glory of God, our ultimate goal. 💕