Author: Paul Nordman

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What Unity Is Not

Over the past 10 weeks, we have been focusing on one crucial aspect of Christianity — unity. All who have entrusted our life to the atoning sacrifice and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ are made one in Him through His one Spirit born in us. This has sweeping, life-changing implications, as we have been seeing. So today, let’s look at oneness from an entirely different angle — what Biblical unity is not.

Christian unity is not compromise. Paul exhorts the Church: “We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”1

Christian unity is not appeasement. It does not capitulate under the judgmental notion of “social relevance.” For instance, when certain Jewish legalists visited a group of believers, Peter “drew back and separated himself [from the Gentiles], fearing [these legalists.]”2 Paul rightly chastised Peter in front of — and for the good of — the entire group.

Christian unity is not uniformity. “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”3 We have different callings, as well.

Christian unity is not mere “Christian nice.” James writes: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ — but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”4 Rather in unity we are called to “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”5

Christian unity is not faithless alliance. God pronounced judgement on Israel for seeking security elsewhere. “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord! . . . The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.”6 We look to God alone, for our wellbeing.

Christian unity — true oneness — does not exist outside of Christ. For everyone who would believe in Him, Jesus interceded “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me.”7

Through Jeremiah, God promised, “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.”8 To which we respond . . .

Yes, Lord, may this be true of us, Your people in Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

1 Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT
2 Galatians 2:12 ESV
3 Romans 12:4-6 NIV
4 James 2:15-16 NLT
5 Galatians 6:2 NLT
6 Isaiah 31:1, 3 ESV
7 John 17:21-23 NIV
8 Jeremiah 32:39 ESV

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A Bunch of Bananas?

Raised in China, our dear friend recalled this wit and wisdom from his grandmother, “Older is better, unless you’re a banana.” I chuckle whenever it comes to mind. Indeed, maturity is a wonderful thing. To students, it means deeper understanding. To artists, more authenticity, perhaps. To speakers, increased persuasion. To weightlifters, growth means stronger; to swimmers, faster; and to all, wiser. But what does maturity look like to believers? In a word, closer.

In last week’s post, we marveled at the Spirit’s gifting us as members of a team, each of us individually equipped for the good of the whole. Our giftings create a diversity among us, but not unto division. Yet our unity does not mean conformity, for each of us is unique. Then together we grow, a collective with many members. Paul explains that Jesus gifted some believers — pastors and teachers, for instance — “to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”1 So, even as we serve God and people in His name, we ourselves continue to develop and mature. And Christian maturity manifests itself in oneness; unity is the true mark of maturity in Christ, who is the head of us all, His church.

Then how must we mature? First, remain anchored in God’s Word. Paul exhorts us to “grow up in every way . . . into Christ”2 so that “we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”3 And Jesus taught that, some hear the Word, “but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But . . . those with a noble and good heart . . . hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”4 That’s growth; that’s maturity. Then so anchored in the Word, we set our sights on what lasts. Paul writes, “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things.”5

Yes, older is better when maturity comes with it. (Or are we just bananas?)

Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. — 2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT

Father, grow us up through the power of Your Word as Your Kingdom — our destination — draws near. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Ephesians 4:12-13 NLT, emphasis added
2 Ephesians 4:15 ESV
3 Ephesians 4:14 ESV
4 Luke 8:14-15 NIV
5 Philippians 3:13-15 NLT

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About Our Spiritual Gifts

The NFL draft starts tomorrow. For months, pro football coaches and general managers have been assessing college players’ athletic abilities and character traits with an eye toward strengthening team weaknesses. Some teams need a quick-thinking quarterback with pinpoint accuracy. Some seek linemen — behemoths with both the heft to open a running lane and the agility to drop back into pass protection. Others lack defensive backs who can go stride for stride against receivers with world class speed. The meat market shopping list goes on, each position demanding its own attributes. We gawk at these individual athletes, but winning depends on team unity, the resolve of each to commit to the whole.

So it is with the body of Christ: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us,”1 and “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”2 Then each believer’s individual giftedness leads to a collective diversity among us, some of us spiritually graced with wisdom, others teaching, others mercy — a host of spiritual manifestations bestowed among believers in Christ Jesus. Yet diversity in the body of Christ must not lead to division amid it. Paul uses an anatomical analogy: “There are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’”3 (And no quarterback in his right mind would ever tell his blindside tackle, “I don’t need you.”) Yes, there is diversity in Christ, but never unto division.  

Nor may our unity in Christ translate into conformity among us. Paul writes: “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?”4 (If the entire offense were wide receivers lined up to sprint downfield, who would ever snap the ball to begin the play?) “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.”5

So now what? Peter speaks: “Use [your spiritual gifts] well to serve one another. Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.”6 Is teaching truly your gift? Then guide the church in the full Word of God. Is it hospitality? Then welcome others with honor into your peaceful oasis of rest. If you are a gifted administrator, leaders need you to bring order to their visionary chaos. Then as we serve each other through our gifts, Peter promises this: “Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.”7 Isn’t this what we want? Isn’t this our purpose?

(And doesn’t the NFL draft feel a little smaller now?)

Father, thank You not only for including us in Your plan, but also for gifting each one of us for our part in it. May we devote ourselves entirely to Your Kingdom call. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT, emphasis added
2 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT, emphasis added
3 1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NLT
4 1 Corinthians 12:17 NLT  
5 1 Corinthians 12:18 NLT
6 1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
7 1 Peter 4:11 NLT)