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Begin by reading Ephesians 4
Our church, New Hope Chapel is an interesting collection of people. From Charismatic to Presbyterian to Baptist to former Catholic, our spiritual backgrounds run the gamut. How can such a diverse body of believers hope to achieve any kind of unity in corporate worship?
The world would tell us that the answer will come in “embracing diversity.” Rather than bemoan the theological and stylistic differences that exist between us, we should celebrate them. There is one problem with this idea. The focus is all wrong. When we direct our attention away from the Head of this body to the individuals in fellowship, we are actually moving in the opposite direction of where we wish to head. Turning our eyes away from God and onto each other is a recipe for unity disaster.
So what is the answer?
A.W. Tozer points out that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to each other. They are of one accord, not by being tuned to each other, but by being tuned to another standard outside of themselves.
As each of us sets our mind on Christ, we will be inevitably drawn together in heart. Paul begins Romans 12 encouraging a very personal commitment to God. Like he does in Ephesians 4, Paul urges us to offer ourselves as individual living sacrifices, renewing our minds in order to be transformed. Why the stress on individual commitment to God in a chapter dedicated to the church operating as a unified body? When each member devotes themselves to the same cause, unity is inevitable.
The political unrest in the Middle East has topped the news headlines lately. Government heads, in power for decades, have been forced to resign after massive citizen protests. Heads of opposing tribes and divergent religious factions set aside their differences and encouraged their people to unite in the interest of a common goal. And the effectiveness of their determination is seen in the toppling of several powerful regimes in recent days.
Our church will be a unified body when one by one we set aside our own agendas and focus our gaze on our Savior. As Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Unity in worship is a by-product of individuals committed to walking with our Lord.
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