For years I have preached, taught and stressed the need for and
importance of unity. While I still
adhere to those convictions I have come to realize that we often have a
misconstrued understanding of unity.
In many ways we wrongfully assume that in order for there to be unity
among a group of people, it means they all must be doing the same thing. It feeds an idea that any level of
disagreement to the established “way” is discord and division, and the person responsible
must acquiesce or be shot. Well maybe
not that extreme – but close.
How effective, however, is a unity that is forced? In what way does that genuinely benefit
anyone? Unity from a standpoint of harmony
has become my focus, drive and desire. Before
going any further let me define both words.
Unity can be
defined as “a condition of harmony.” It can
also be defined as “the quality or state of being made one,” otherwise known as
unification. [1]
Harmony for
our purposes is best defined as a “pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts.”
[2]
What I believe is often called unity is actually a desire for
unification. While I agree that the
whole is greater than the sum of the parts, we also must realize that without
the parts there would be no whole. The whole
is made better by the characteristics of the parts. Therefore, genuine unity is a condition based
upon a pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts.
In Acts 2 we are told that when the Day of Pentecost came the believers
were “with one accord” (2:1). A look
into the Greek of this word “accord” brings this important nugget to light.
A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New
Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness
of the Christian community. Homothumadon
is a compound of two words meaning to “rush along” and “in unison.” The image is almost musical; a number of
notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under
the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives
of members of Christ’s church. [3]
This is harmony. This does not
speak of unification or unity that is forced or fabricated. This is what we as the church are called to
by God. The intent of unity is to meld
together the various passions and gifts of each person into a common passion
and goal.
