MUSINGS ON CHRISTIAN HARMONY, #1: Established fact, essential goal

I’d like to share some occasional thoughts, as they come to mind, for my Christian friends. We are living in difficult times, but we can affirm that Christian harmony remains both 1) an established fact and 2) an essential goal.

First, unity and harmony are established facts because of the work of Jesus Christ. He prayed that His followers would be made one (John 17:11, 21, 22); and we can say that His prayer has already been answered because the Church has been formed, and now every believer has the same dignity in the eyes of God. Economic status, gender, social standing, and ethnic differences are broken down (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-19; Colossians 3:11).

This doesn’t mean that personal identity (in my case, a white American male) disappears. As Christians, our individuality is still preserved and, it seems, will even be identifiable in heaven (Revelation 5:9, 7:9). What it means, though, is that being a white American, a black Nigerian, or an Asian Filipino neither confers nor diminishes any sort of status when we are together as Christian believers. From God’s viewpoint, the global Church is the most beautiful tapestry of interwoven fabrics in the entire world.

But wait-- there's more! Christian harmony is also an essential goal. Ephesians 4:3 requires Christians to live in a worthy manner by “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The word “endeavoring” is full of action. It implies intention, energy, work, diligence, earnest care, eagerness, speed. Some Bible translations say, “Make every effort!” Remember when you were a kid and you ran with reckless abandon across the street when you saw your friend? It’s just like that.

But is that the kind of effort and intention we are showing when it comes to displaying the unity of the Spirit? What’s more, Ephesians 4 tells us that it is done with lowliness, gentleness, bearing with one another in love. Are we willing to run, quickly and with abandon, to the place of humility and peace in order to enjoy practical Christian harmony?

By the way, if right now you are thinking of Christians who look different from you, and you’re saying to yourself, “Yes, those Christians really ought to do more of this”-- if you’re thinking that, then it means this message is for you, not them. It’s a message for me, not others.

So if you feel the need to disagree with a fellow believer, okay, there is a place for that. But you and I must, at the very same moment, make every effort to express that we care about relationships and unity. It’s the only attitude which honors that lovely, worthy name of Jesus Christ by which we are called.

(This subject is much more complex, and perhaps it will not surprise you that I have more to say! Stay tuned if you want.)