Unity: The Foundation for Church Growth

There is no church growth without unity:

This fundamental truth challenges every believer to examine their heart and priorities when it comes to the body of Christ.

What Does Unity Look Like in the Church? Unity in the church isn't about everyone agreeing on every minor detail. It's about walking worthy of the calling we've received in Jesus Christ. When we focus on personal preferences over the greater purpose of Christ, we disrupt the very foundation that allows a church to grow both numerically and spiritually. Consider how many trivial things divide churches today. People disagree over thermostats, song choices, seating arrangements, and countless other preferences. Meanwhile, they wonder why their church isn't growing. The answer is simple: growth cannot happen when unity is disrupted.

Are You Walking Worthy of Your Calling?

Ephesians 4:1-6 provides the blueprint for church unity. Paul writes: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

This passage asks a piercing question: Are you walking worthy of what Jesus Christ did for you? When feelings get hurt and the temptation to pout arises, the real question becomes whether this is about you or about Jesus Christ. When it becomes about Jesus Christ, churches grow. When it remains about personal preferences and hurt feelings, churches stagnate.

The Seven Pillars of Unity Paul identifies seven specific elements that should unify believers:

One Body

One Spirit

One Hope

One Lord

One Faith

One Baptism

One God and Father

Why Do Churches Struggle with Unity?

It's remarkable that worldly organizations often display more unity than churches. Labor unions and political parties maintain solidarity for their causes, yet churches quickly compromise on unity over minor issues. This raises a troubling question: Does Satan have more unifying ability than the Holy Spirit? The answer, of course, is no. The problem lies not with God's power but with believers' willingness to submit to that power. When Christians act like competing political parties rather than unified members of Christ's body, they quench the Holy Spirit and hinder God's work.

The Eternal Perspective on Unity

Every believer will one day appear before Jesus Christ as judge. Consider this sobering thought: What if God wanted to save someone on the very day when unity was disrupted by petty disagreements? What if someone's eternal destiny hung in the balance while church members were focused on personal preferences rather than the gospel? Eternity is serious. If we truly believe we don't know what tomorrow holds, shouldn't we start acting like it when we gather in God's house?

The Role of Self-Examination

The Bible provides a prescription for daily spiritual health that includes immediate reflection after each day. Believers should honestly examine their day, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal failures and shortcomings. This should be followed by immediate confession and repentance. This practice prevents the accumulation of unconfessed sin and maintains the spiritual health necessary for unity. Satan is particularly active during late night and early morning hours, as demonstrated when Peter denied Christ during the "cock crow watch."

Growth Requires Unity

Churches should grow both numerically and spiritually, but this growth is impossible without unity. Many churches follow a predictable pattern: they grow to a certain point, then decline, then grow again to the same point and decline again. This cycle continues because they never address the underlying unity issues that prevent sustained growth. Instead of being satisfied with the status quo, churches should reassess their position and set new goals for continued growth. However, this requires a unified body working toward common purposes under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Life Application

This week, commit to examining your role in church unity. Before reacting to any situation that doesn't go your way, ask yourself: "Is this about me or about Jesus Christ?" Choose to respond with the lowliness, gentleness, and long-suffering that Paul describes in Ephesians 4.

Make a daily practice of reflecting on your day and confessing any attitudes or actions that disrupted unity. Remember that your personal preferences are far less important than the unity of Christ's body and the potential for reaching lost souls.

Questions for Self-Reflection:

• Am I walking worthy of the calling I've received in Jesus Christ?

• Do my reactions to church situations reflect the Holy Spirit's work in my life or my own selfish desires?

• How might my attitude be hindering church growth and the salvation of others?

• What specific steps can I take this week to promote unity rather than division in my church?