Eager to Maintain Unity

If there was ever a message to hit home today, it comes from Paul to the Ephesians in Chapter 4. In my Bible, the title of the chapter is “Walk in Unity.”

Sometimes we confuse unity with conformity. Conformity can diminish if not complete negate individuality and the gifts that come through/with diversity. So, it would help us to recognize and get past this idea that in order to be unified, we must all be just alike. That is NOT the admonition of Paul or other writers in the Bible … or of Jesus.

In the passages for Ephesians 4, Paul is insistant that these folks are not sitting around doing nothing … meandering through their daily lives with nothing accomplished in accordance with their calling and purpose. He encourages (strongly) to be steady in their efforts, “pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love.” (The Message) He tells them to be aware of differences, and to be “quick at the mending.”

 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 3:4

Keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace … is worthy of some critical thinking … discernment … discussion.

First of all … what is “peace.” According to the Google dictionary, “peace is the freedom from disturbance; tranquility.”

Vocabulary.com says that it is “everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom.”

Many who are troubled … seek “inner peace.”

“Inner peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Being “at peace” is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious.

Definitions.net

And Wikipedia offers this concept, that peace is “societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility …”

While we may know a few folks who just like to “stir the pot,” most of us prefer peace to conflict. I’m not so sure that we would fully appreciate the concept of peace … if there was no conflict. (but in our peopleness, we really don’t have to worry about that)

There is a difference … AND THIS MUST BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD … between being peace-able, or peaceful, and being passive. It truly does take an active effort to live in peace with others as there will always be differences of opinion, beliefs, cultures, lifestyles, skills, gifts, talents, interest, etc.

But being passive is the opposite of active. When one is passive, there’s very little if any participation or engagement in matters that can foster understanding, personal growth, or changing where change is required or necessary. Too much passivity leads only to simple existence and not to that abundant live to which we are created.

In many instances … choosing the passive route is choosing to “not know,” or ignorance for lack of a better term. Perhaps some choose this path because they fear what feels like conflict or “unpeaceable” alternatives. This could be a part of what Paul refers to as “futility of thinking” …

 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Ephesians 4:17-19

There are so many familiar adages to learn from in this letter to the Ephesians:

• In your anger, do not sin
• Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry
• Do not give the devil a foothold
• Speak truth to your neighbor
• Do something useful with your hands (so that they may have something to share with those in need)
• Don’t let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth
• Be kind and compassionate to each other
• DO NOT GRIEVE the HOLY SPIRIT

None of these offer any reasons to be passive. Each of these do require an active effort toward achieving a peaceable existence with others … living in unity … living in peace … EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DIVERSITY.

Simple instructions about which we can be eager in our working together to achieve and maintain unity.