The Testimony of Unity

 

John 17:20, 21

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me,” John 17:21.

 

A church’s testimony in the community in which it assembles is critical. It is critical to the spread of the gospel in the community, city, state, nation and around the world. It is critical to the acceptance of Jesus by the lost.

Every now and then, it would benefit a local church to evaluate how it looks to people outside its membership. You might be surprised. If a church has a reputation for arguing and splitting, you can be sure the evaluation will be negative. However, if the church body is involved, kind and caring to people outside its membership, then the evaluation will be positive.

Furthermore, unity in a body of believers always has a positive effect on the members as well as the guests (unbelievers and believers) who attend a service. Why? The way we treat each other is always visible. If we treat each other with respect and kindness, esteeming one another and showing brotherly love to one another, it will be a great testimony to our guests of our love for God and the precious sacrifice of Jesus. The opposite is true if we treat them badly.

 

 

REFLECTION

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor. 12:25, 26).

 

Beverly Barnett