The unity of the body is very important to the Lord. God sets the example of unity in trinity; the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit working in one accord with one another. Each have their unique work, and at the same time they work in unison to reveal the Godhead and to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth.
Paul exhorts us to unity in the below scriptures:
Therefore, I the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-6
We have much in common
The Apostle Paul urges us to unity because we all serve the same God, who has given us the same Holy Spirit. We all have the same hope for eternity, and we are all part of the same body who is the bride of Christ. We have the most important things in common.
Although as believers, we have much in common, the unity is still going to take work. Paul calls each believer to enter in this unity with lowliness and gentleness. Unity requires humility. If we come with an attitude of pride or harshness, we create an atmosphere of separation, resistance, and even hostility.
Christ has bought us unity by destroying the power of the enemy whose main work is to separate people from God and to separate people form one another. As people of God, unity is available to us, but it will still require work and effort on our end to partner with the Holy Spirit.
Unity will demand dying to self and personal preferences. It will require being patient and long suffering with one another. Unity will insist in overlooking each other’s weaknesses. That means we are not just tolerating each other, but we choose to love. Out of love for the individual and love for the body, we will do our part to go through the pain of bearing with each other’s immaturity and issues. In this way, we are keeping the bonds of unity recognizing we are all imperfect people who serve a perfect God!
Sectarianism causes disunity
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
If we shift our focus from Jesus, we are bound to concentrate on the natural and become political! A natural person will want to get close to those who he/she deems important or popular. Some will join the “loving” club. Others will join the “truth” group. A few will want to belong to the “elite” club who only a privileged few can enter in. Any of these groups includes some people but rejects or excludes many. All of this is carnality, and it is sin because it indicates that Jesus is not at the center of attention any longer.
God uses people in our lives to help us grow and mature. However, they are not designed neither are they capable to take the place of Jesus. We are not baptized in any one’s name except Jesus. No one has died for our sins except Jesus. No one can open the door to heaven except Jesus. No one can define our destiny and future except Jesus. For all of those reasons and a whole host of other reasons, we cannot join ourselves to a person or a group to the point of causing disunity, separation, or division.
Think about your associations, attitudes, and words. Examine them to see if they create an atmosphere of unity for the greater body. If your attitude or actions are in the line of “us versus them” chances are division is being brewed in you and around you.