What is True Unity?

Jesus prayed, "Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are" (John 17:11). 

Are we living this unity that Christ so desires for us? What is true unity? Is it tolerance? Is it ecumenicalism? Are we part of some large, but only mystical Body of Christ, made up of opposing doctrines under the same umbrella?

I'd suggest that each of those is an attempt at partial unity. However, divorce (in its most fundamental sense), schism and denominations are contrary to the unity Christ desired. There are upwards of 40,000+ denominations of Christianity today. How many is too many? I'd suggest our Lord would propose that two, is too many. Members of the Body of Christ are like a puzzle. Christ's desire is that each of us, a unique piece of this puzzle, should fit together in perfect unity, making up the completed masterpiece. However, we have each become pieces of different puzzles. Instead of conforming to God's design, some of us have molded ourselves into pieces too large or too small to fit the place prepared for us.

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25).

Christ delivered unto us one set of teaching (Jude 1:3), with one faith (Ephesians 4:5). The moment we begin to select our morals or teachings like food from a cafeteria, we have failed unity. Many times we diminish morality under the false pretense of love, "I love you so if you think this <insert immoral act here> makes you 'happy' than who am I to stand in your way".

However, loving isn't always easy. It's not always comfortable. Real love means doing what is right for the other person, maybe even doing the hard thing. Love means sacrifice. Just look at how Christ loved us, His bride, the church.

Our fleshly tendency is the take the easy way out. I'm living proof, just ask my workout buddy... To be a disciple requires discipline, it's not easy. Seeking the fullness of truth, seeking unity, isn't easy either. For many that might mean severing relationships, abandoning a community they've attended since birth. It might mean a change in hobby, or career.

But here's the good news--it's worth it.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

In the words of the Apostle Paul, keep on running the race! We run this race together, in unity, as one Body of Christ, seeking the fullness of truth. We are not mere individuals, making up of an invisible, mystical church. We are part of a family, called to ONE dinner table--the marriage supper of the Lamb.