UNITY and the Family of God

February 12, 2025

Chaplain LaVina “Viny” Burns

We hear so much about being encouraged to “Live in unity”, even with the unbeliever. Yet the verses used to support this are often taken out of context. Let’s look at a few of them and put them in proper context.

Yes, UNITY is needed, but when the Bible talks about living in unity, it generally discusses CHRISTIANS living, working, serving together in one accord. When the world looks at the church and sees so much dissention among the family of God, they are turned away. However, when the unsaved looks at a body of believers dwelling together in peace and like-mindedness, it is amazing how differently they react to us. The Word of God wants us to show the Love of Christ by showing our living in Unity in the Family of God.

Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (The brethren – the body of Christ!)

I Corinthians 1:10, “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.” (Again, brethren!)

I Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;” (Brothers/sisters in Christ)

There are several more verses that address unity, yet if we apply unity to the saved and unsaved, we are brought to the verse in II Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15) And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16) And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My People.” 17) Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 18) I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

I personally know a young girl that was instructed to not be best friends with another girl in a cult. Her grandmother begged her to lighten up on the relationship lest the friend pulled her into their cult. The granddaughter did not heed the advice of the grandmother and everyone witnessed the friend pulling the young Christian girl into her “cultish religion”. It was sad to see the girl shed her Biblical views and turn anti-God and a slave to the religion. In turn, the girl brought her sister and family into the cult … like a chain. How Sad! Looking at verse 16, this young girl falls into the “what does the temple of God (God’s people) have to do with idols??” NO UNITY! There are consequences to be paid.

I have heard of “being in unity” with those of opposite political views, opposite Biblical views, etc., do we have to be in unity?? Again, UNITY is with the Family of God. We do not need to be in unity with different views – we can agree to disagree and get along, but when it comes to the Word of God, my friend, I am not budging! I know what the WORD says, what is expected out of me, how I am to live and how others should view me! I want to know that my life shows and glorifies Jesus first and foremost. Yes, I do believe we desperately need to be in UNITY in our churches. I was just witnessing to a young man and his view of the church is one that speaks of total lack of unity in the church! God Forbid! His concern was not that I do not necessarily agree with him in different areas in his life, but that the church lives in unity and he sees it. Let us show the world we are in UNITY because we stand firm on the Word of God in our beliefs and our lives.

UNITY “The state of being joined as a whole” – Verse 18, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Have you joined the Family of God and are enjoying living in UNITY with the Family of Believers that stand firm on the Word of God? If you have questions of joining the family, please always PM me on FB. I’m there for you!

I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,

I’ve been washed in the fountain,

Cleansed by His blood.

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I’m part of the Family,

The Family of God!

Written by Bill and Gloria Gaither