Page 123 - Ephesians

Unity is not made by sharing common creeds. Unity is not
everybody believing the same things. The death, resurrection and
work of Christ made unity. That’s the error of denominationalism,
which is built on creedal agreements and faith statements. If you
can’t sign my statement of faith, sorry, you’re not welcome. That’s
denominationalism. Our blessed responsibility to keep the unity of
the Spirit, is crippled by denominationalism.

Some think that unity is created by social events. I love to
fellowship. It’s fun to meet with God’s people. But fellowshipping
doesn’t create unity. Some say, “Well, our young people need to
be one. Let’s start a bowling league or softball team. We’ll order
pizza and do scavenger hunts.” Church suppers don’t create
unity. Proximity doesn’t make unity. We had a neighbor that we
lived close to for years. There was no unity or peace there! I
guarantee it! Unity is not created by social occasions. It’s already
made. Unity is a lot deeper than singing in the same choir, or
going to the same functions together. And unity is not
uniformity. We don’t need cookie cutter Christians that all look
and act the same.

Take a piece of music. In a good piece of music, there’s more
than one note. If all the instruments looked and sounded the
same, you couldn’t experience the majesty and creativity of a
Bach or Beethoven. There is incredible diversity in the miracle we
call the human body. A vast, complex, multitude of completely
different parts, united by one common life. The life of my head is
in my arm. The life of my head is in my leg. The life of my head
is in my body. Every part is fitted together. Each member, and
each organ, has its own proper function. But it has one common
life.

I believe in separation from sin but not from Christians. We are
one in Christ. We have the same Head. God sees us as one.
Diversified, unique, but one. Do you see why He lays this
foundation first? Watch. We’re all going to get mature. We’re all
going to arrive, because God has given gifts to His children.
Verse 13, “Until,” means we aren’t there yet, “Until we come to
the unity of the faith”. Do you know anybody that has reached