So whose responsibility is it to pursue unity instead of their own desires? If people are not in harmony, it’s because one person is not going along with the rest. So which person needs to give in and follow the other? Not us, right? If everyone deferred to everyone else, nothing would ever get done, so why should I give in? Why shouldn’t everyone else just follow me?
Conductors are the ones in charge of orchestras and choirs. Everyone is supposed to follow them. Pastors are in charge of churches, and likewise, the congregation should follow them. But what about churches in the midst of transitioning to a new pastor? And what about smaller groups of believers? What about ministries within a church, not led directly by a pastor? Who gets to choose what’s right and pick the plan?
I wrote in the last chapter about not planning ahead too much, so we can stay flexible. What happens is decided by God, not by us. So if we attempt to guide a Christian group ourselves, we need to be extra sure that we are following God, and not assuming God is following us.
The way to ensure we are following God is by obeying His commands. And one of the best ways to obey when leading a group is to seek the unity brought about by love for others. Jesus prayed for us to have that kind of unity the night before His death. We have all sinned, and we all need the grace of God. Remembering that can help us love each other enough for the world to take notice.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:13-14
[I pray] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:21-23