What Does Unity Look Like
The church is a place where unity is key among all members. The Corinthian church was known as a great church by those looking from the outside. However, looking in, the church was divided, and attention was placed on unnecessary things. We look to 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 to see why unity is so important within the church.
1. Unity is about diversity (v. 12-20)
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Cor 12:12)
Paul uses the illustration of the human body to demonstrate unity. Like the human body, the church is made up of different cultures, personalities, gifts, and life experiences. But we are all baptized into one body by one Spirit and share that same Spirit. Different body parts have different functions and purposes. But differences do not mean division within the body. Rather it allows unity.
In diversity, our body functions perfectly and yet they all work in sync. The Corinthians believed that diversity was bad leading to division. They did not understand that as God placed Christ as the head of the body, all the parts have been chosen and assigned for a reason. Many Christians have the same mindset as the Corinthians today. However, if we are to learn anything from the mistakes of the Corinthian church, it’s that we must embrace diversity and not let our differences lead to division. God is sovereign and has placed everyone within the church for a reason and this is an important thing to remember.
2. Unity is about dependency (v. 21-26)
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” … there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor 12:21-26)
The Corinthian church thought that certain people or functions/gifts were not needed. But as Paul says, different body parts cannot say to other parts that they do not belong or have no use to the body. The reality is that all parts of the body (and all members of the church) should be honoured and are needed. As we mentioned, God has designed the body of Christ with the different parts in mind. And it’s because of all these parts, the body functions.
It’s clear that everyone has a role to play no matter how big or small. Because we hold true to this idea—that all the members of church belong because God has placed them—there should be no division. We must realise that we need one another. This realisation then means we are led to care for and depend on one another. When this happens, the body can function as one.
Just like a body cannot operate without all its parts working together; we cannot do church if everyone is not moving together. So, how can a church achieve unity?
We must first understand that Christianity is a communal mission.
We then need to pray and ask God how we can contribute to the body.
We work together with other members everyday. We need to strive to be a community that deeply strives to care and love each other.
Father God,
Thank you for your design and sovereignty over the body of Christ. I pray that we strive to care for and depend on each other in our church community but also the larger community. I pray that we understand that the church is about unity.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen