A Meaning of Unity
Eigenheim Church, 1896 “ My prayer is not for [these disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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 . ” (John 17: 20-21) Unity in the church is not “ a theme,” but rather “ the theme” in Jesus’ prayer as recorded in St. John’s gospel. A consistent witness to the world rides on the back of unity, of course; that Messianic message that Jesus instilled in his followers can only prosper in the world if Christians catch the theme and both preach and practice it “in unity.” (One can almost imagine a reticent former tax collector, Matthew, glancing over at loud-mouthed Peter and muttering, “Good Luck with that, Master. Such perfect unity is going to need lots and lots of prayer, I think!”) We know intuitively that human nature is as inclined to be competitive as it is to be cooperative. Our sur