Before considering what God says about unity, we need to address a major misconception about it.
A misconception about unity is that we have to agree on everything to be in unity. On the contrary, it is helpful not to see everything eye to eye because it allows our misconceptions to be challenged, and it provides a different point of view. For example, generally, in a marriage, God brings opposites together to form a union. Problems actually occur when one or both spouses try to change each other and make the spouse like themselves. The differences in a marriage can be a great blessing. If these differences are handled well, they bring balance. A couple can complement each other rather than compete with each other. If both spouses operate the same way, it may work great in some areas. However, in other they can become off-balance. The same is true in the body of Christ. The scripture tells us:
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16
Each part of the body is important and each joint supplies. We don’t need everyone to be “eyes” in the body, and we don’t need everyone to be “ears” in the body. Each person has been called to fulfill their purpose in the body of Christ. That means we will not always see what someone else sees, and we will not hear what someone else is hearing. More importantly, God will give us different burdens for the church, ministry, people, and the community.
If people believe that agreement is unity, it leads to people conforming for the sake of unity. Conformity is not unity! As a matter of fact, conformity produces a counterfeit to unity. People in their urge to express unity make compromises to the voice of the Holy Spirit in order to conform to the voice of those in power or in majority. Conformity is carnality, and it is based on fear of man. The scripture very clearly speaks against conformity but commands us to be transformed (See Romans 12:1-2).
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
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