…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Philippians 2:2
There’s nothing that can bring more joy into the life of a pastor than to see the church thriving in unity. Conversely, there’s nothing that can bring more sorrow to church leadership than to see the members constantly arguing and dividing over irrelevant issues. Denominational diversity, personal preferences, and doctrinal differences should aid in widening the scope of the gospel, not hindering it. Paul desired to see the church at Philippi flourish. His joy would come with knowing that the church was working like a well-oiled machine. This effectiveness would emerge from nothing less than unity. Paul describes this oneness of spirit by using four descriptors. Each is to be a reality in the life of any church serious about its effectiveness in spreading the gospel. Consider Paul’s focus:
- The church is to exist with the same mind.
Being of the same mind doesn’t mean that there is not diversity within the church. Individuals will always yield individual opinions and viewpoints. The call of the church is not to uniformity rather unity. To “be of the same mind” is to be harmonious, to agree, and to share the same viewpoints (on the purpose and function of the church). While there will be varying degrees regarding the “how” behind ministry, there should be little dissension over the “why.” The church is to be of the same mind when it comes to the spreading of good news to the world.
- The church is to maintain the same love.
An indispensable part of the Christian faith is the way that believers treat one another and those outside of the church. A repetitive theme of scripture is that of the importance of love. Paul was encouraging the church to possess this Christian love and for it to be consistent from believer to believer. Knowing that every member of the church will respond to others with nothing less than authentic, sincere care and concern is an indispensable part of ministry. This love should be more than just words rather it should be demonstrated through action. Consistent love throughout the ministry of the church yields an environment in which people can come and seek refuge from the world.
- The church is to be united in spirit.
The greatest unifying factor in the church is the Spirit of God. Regardless of one’s viewpoints and opinions (those reside in the thinking of the individual), the presence of God in the life of a believer’s heart is what fuels unity. Maturing Christians who have moved from a focus on their own preferences into recognition of the needs of others will inevitably become more effective at ministry than those who have yet to make this journey. It is not one’s opinion that makes for effective Christian service rather it is the power of God in the life of that person. With God’s Spirit testifying to our spirits, the church can move forward in unity, focusing on its effectiveness in telling others about Jesus.
- The church is to be intent on one purpose.
The church has one purpose for its existence. Jesus left our marching orders when He proclaimed the following:
And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Mark 16:15
The church can greatly impact a community in numerous ways. The different ministries of the church are abundant. But there should be one overarching purpose behind everything that we do: to lead others to Jesus. Ultimately, the only solution to any problem or situation is to surrender one’s life to Christ. Conversion of people’s souls is at the heart of the gospel. When the church unifies around this one purpose of “preaching the gospel to all creation”, it will see victory and the power of God displayed.
Most of us have probably heard the motto, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Even Jesus spoke of the impossibility of a kingdom standing when working against itself (Mark 3:24). Unity is a must if the church is to fulfill its mission in our culture today. When the church is thinking the same, loving others the same, and united and intent on one purpose, it will begin to see the awesome power of God displayed. Amazing ground can be made and multiple lives changed for eternity when the church operates in the matchless power of unity!
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