Forty years ago at the height of the Graham ministry and ecumenical evangelism, unity was seemingly all we heard about from the popular Christian leaders. I find it interesting that as we have moved into what may be called the “church growth” era very little is being said about unity. It seems to have sort of died out with the death of that men’s movement nearly twenty years ago now that was called, “Promise Keepers”.
Popular Christianity is more publicly identified now with mega churches that are characterized with very sophisticated methods of giving people what they want in an effort to get their attention. I think that behind much of this are found some huge egos and ambitions. For this reason they are not too particularly interested in unity.
Christ however was quite interested in unity and in His prayer that is recorded in John chapter seventeen He prayed specifically for that. In even a cursory study of that prayer you will find that true unity is a function of sanctification. Unity is a natural result of conforming to the doctrine and person of Christ.
I see it in the terms of a manufacturing plant that is producing some type of a machine. As the various departments and workers follow and conform to the plans that have been produced by the engineering department the result is thousands of pieces that fit together to form a whole.
And so in like manner there is today a wonderful unity among those who are faithfully following Christ. You know these folks when you meet them and you sense the reality of a brotherhood that is found only in Christ.
