UNITY OF BELIEVERS BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1
BRETHREN will dwell in unity if they are walking in the light as He is in the light. Individuals who make up an assembly of Christ are as different as day is from night. Different in disposition, personality, temperament, culture, and whatever else makes up individuals. The miracle of Church Unity is not found in its ability to get along; it is found in its common bond. Christ is that common bond. The Spirit of Christ glues the Assembly together in “one hope of its calling” to “One Lord, one faith” (the ‘faith’ of the Gospel of His grace and glory). It is immersed into Christ by “one baptism.” It has “one God and Father, who is above all, and through all,” and in all that make up this Spiritual organism and its one common goal is to please “Him who is all in all.” Brethren in spirit ought to dwell together in church fellowship and in that fellowship one essential principle is unity. We can do without uniformity if we are unified in oneness of life, truth and way; oneness in Christ Jesus, oneness of object and spirit—these we must have or our assemblies will be synagogues of contention rather than bodies of Christ. The closer the unity the better, for the more of the good and the pleasant there will be. Since we are imperfect beings, somewhat of the evil and the unpleasant is sure to intrude, but this will readily be balanced and easily removed by the true love of the saints, if it really exists. Christian unity is good in itself, good for us, good for the brethren, good for our converts, good for the outside world, and for certain it is pleasant, for a loving heart must have pleasure and give pleasure in associating with others of like nature. A church united for years in earnest service of the Lord is a well of goodness and joy to all those who dwell round about it. It is like the precious ointment upon the head. It has a sweet perfume about it, comparable to that precious ointment with which the first High Priest was anointed at his ordination. It is a holy thing, and so again is like the oil of consecration that was to be used only in the Lord’s service. What a sacred thing must brotherly love be when it can be likened to oil which must never be poured on any man but on the Lord’s high priest alone! It is a diffusive thing, being poured on his head the fragrant oil flowed down upon Aaron’s head, and thence dropped upon his garments till the utmost hem was anointed therewith, and even so does brotherly love extend its beneficial power and bless all who are beneath its influence.
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