As I write this entry, the world could not be described as unified. Far from it. There’s racial and political tension, to name a couple of issues. People are divided over a pandemic, too. Elections are contested and close.
The better descriptive word for our day is “divided.”
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 133:1
Even the church is outwardly separated into camps and alienated from one another. All too often, the church falls along lines laid down and drawn by the world around us. It’s as if there is no difference between us and the world.
I have always sought to be committed to unity, but loss has cleared my eyes even more. Insignificant arguments or issues fall away, and unity’s importance rises within my mind. I more easily discern divisiveness that is unacceptable in the church.
This division ought not be as it is. It is shameful.
“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” James 3:10
Instead, we should be marked by good and pleasant unity. The people of God should stand together on the essentials of our faith. Even disagreements over theology and style should be had in the context of unity—with conviction and commitment. The blood of Jesus makes us one. This psalm pleas with us to live up to the unity that has been delivered to us by virtue of the family we’ve been born into by the grace of God.
The world is watching.
“It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!” Psalm 133:2
This already-delivered and yet-to-be embraced unity is likened to oil on Aaron’s head. This unity should be unstoppable. Oil rolls off Aaron’s head and down his beard. It is unable to be contained. The oil runs off his beard and onto his robe. Further, the aroma goes beyond the liquid oil into the surrounding air. Like a perfume, the oil’s fragrance goes further than the oil itself and permeates the air around Aaron.
Likewise, David illustrates unity. It’s good and pleasant in its reach.
“It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” Psalm 133:3
David goes beyond the illustration of oil to employ the dew on Hermon, as another example. Mount Hermon is the tallest mountain in Israel. It was well-known for the heavy dew that descended upon the surface. However, the same dew falls on other mountains in Zion. The same dew falls on all, regardless of the stature. Unity is like that as the grace of God is made known in every heart, regardless of stature. All hearts are drawn—or should be drawn—together in unassailable unity.
The same blessing from God is commanded to be available to all. This blessing is not only deep and expansive; it is also eternal. This blessing of life evermore is pervasive. It is available for all. The blessing of life made available by God is what should define us. Not division over lesser issues. Unity is based on family. If we are born into God’s family, we are to be unified. Regardless of age, gender, wealth, status, or any other descriptor that identifies people in the church, we should maintain the unity.
Grace makes us one. Sorrow can clear your eyes if you invite it to do so.
“Sorrow has a humanizing influence. It makes us gentle and kindly toward each other.” J. R. Miller, The Ministry of Comfort
Read the E-book Facing Loss: Lessons of Hope from My Unwanted Journey
This message seems more important with each passing day. Francis Schaeffer wrote about the distinction between absolute principles and relative opinions. We should hold fast to biblical absolutes but hold loosely to our changing opinions. For example, the authority of scripture and the deity of Christ are non-negotiables, but the style of music we sing or the kind clothes we wear are far less important. The challenge is in distinguishing the difference between what is absolute and what is relative.
Amen, Greg! The older I get the more important this message becomes.