The Lost Art Of Unity?

Digging4Truth · #1 10-01-2007, 10:48 AM

Doesn't unity go further than everybody thinking the same things?

Isn't unity a larger goal than knowing everybody holds our own personal preferences, opinions and convictions?

All this talk of splitting up and the constant chatter about unity that we all hear makes me think that folks have missed the mark somewhere.

It's just like the Bible talked about the Body of Christ... much diversity in use, function etc and yet operating together as a whole for one purpose.

Just as peace is not properly defined as a lack of war neither is unity properly defined as a lack of disagreement on things.

Unity should be a people held together under one banner... that being fulfilling the mission given us by Jesus Christ, bound together for that goal. Each reaching out to touch their world according to their own vision & ability.

Each one being unique in their vision and, thereby, uniquely equipped to reach a part of the world that the brother next to him cannot reach as effectively because they are 2 individuals who think and operate differently. And yet, these brethren, do reach with all effectiveness those their particular vision equips them to reach and the brethren have no resentment one for the other because the banner that binds them still stands.

A unity of "people who think like me" is and always will be a frail and precarious union which will fly apart at the first inkling of someone having an original thought.

Our binds that we choose are too frail and too near the human heart to hold us together. We should choose binds that are higher and stronger and let God use each of us as He so chooses as we all stand pleased that, in each of our own ways, we are reaching the world with the message of a Savior that died that they might have life and that more abundantly.

Unity should not be something we seek until it has become something that we have properly defined.

At this point in history... Unity still stands as poorly defined.

Nahum · #2 10-01-2007, 10:53 AM

Tie the tails of two cats together and hang them over a clothes line.

They may be together but, I assure you, they are not unified.

Nahum · #3 10-01-2007, 10:53 AM

Unity is not togetherness.

Nahum · #4 10-01-2007, 10:54 AM

Unity cannot be forced.

Digging4Truth · #5 10-01-2007, 10:55 AM

Great thoughts PP... So true.

Nahum · #6 10-01-2007, 10:55 AM

Unity must be cultivated.

Nahum · #7 10-01-2007, 10:58 AM

Unity is a oneness of hearts and minds working to accomplish a specific goal.

Persons from all ideologies and backgrounds can unite for one cause.

Must they agree on all things in order to unite for the one?

Digging4Truth · #8 10-01-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Must they agree on all things in order to unite for the one?

If they feel that they must agree on all things then their group will be small indeed.

One keep point is this... when seeking unity are people seeking others to be unified with the way they themselves believe or are they seeking unity for a larger purpose than their own to which they are willing to become a part of the whole because they see a purpose bigger than their own stringent agendas?

The seed must die before the plant comes forth.

Personal issues have to die in the ground of unity before something larger and united can emerge.

Nahum · #9 10-01-2007, 11:04 AM

In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Anne Baxter

Nahum · #10 10-01-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

If they feel that they must agree on all things then their group will be small indeed.

One key point is this... when seeking unity are people seeking others to be unified with the way they themselves believe or are they seeking unity for a larger purpose than their own to which they are willing to become a part of the whole because they see a purpose bigger than their own stringent agendas?
The seed must die before the plant comes forth.

Personal issues have to die in the ground of unity before something larger and united can emerge.

In my estimation, unity does not require uniformity. We can disagree on many things, and even almost all things, but for unification to occur we must agree on at least one thing. And so each of us tosses our combined efforts into the smelter of selflessness in order to achieve that one thing we desire.