Unity

'Finally, all of you, have unity of mind'
 1 Peter 3:8.

Unity of mind, now that’s something that’s hard to come by! We often recognise our differences with other people but not our commonality let alone our unity. This is true even within the christian community.
For example, our churches are often identified by which denomination they are in, and that in our minds demonstrates difference. It tells us something of how another church may demonstrate faith differently, how worship may be different, styles different and services different.

How about focussing on unity instead?

That’s what this verse encourages us to do - to realise that actually, we have a lot more that unifies us than that which makes us different. 

One of the questions I HATE being asked is, “well, what KIND of christian are you?” I hate that!

*There is only one type of christian.*

A christian is someone who models themselves on Christ - who believes in his death and resurrection for the purpose of uniting us again with God. That’s what a christian is. Why do we get caught up in what ‘kind’ of christian we are? If the fundamental fact is that we are all desiring to honour and worship our creator through the grace of God shown through Jesus, equipped by the Holy Spirit, what else matters?

We are on the same team.
We are in the same army.
We are family.
We are united.

Firstly, I just want to say that this 'unity of mind' is not about us all being some kind of spiritual robots who all have the same types of lives and routines, or who all like the same things. We are different and have been created so, but in this day and age when are all very keen to show off our uniqueness, to flaunt our differences, we need know and accept that we are really one and the same. We are all sinners saved by grace. We were once far from God, and each other, but now we are connected, united, joined together by blood. The very blood of Jesus has made us family. We have been adopted and combined together in the worldwide family of God.

This connection is not about us acting the same way, but recognising that we have been given this 'unity of mind' that instils in us the same mission. We are all disciples of Jesus, entrusted with the task of making more disciples.

The enemy would love for us to flaunt our factions. He loves it when we see the difference in the denominations because it means we are focussed on difference not unity. This then causes us to  disconnect with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whereas unity between christians and churches is incredibly powerful, not just in the christian community, but far beyond it.

Unity is evident in the incredible success of; Foodbank, Street Pastors, CAP, churches together marching through the streets at special events like Easter. This unity has power. I’ve seen it. The unity of different people with different lives from different churches working together produces a different community.

Through the unity of churches together lives are saved. Salvation comes, communities are changed.

Don’t you want to be a part of that?