UNITY: Deeper than "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

Wow. I just picked up an old notebook to look for a phone number and unearthed a treasure trove of notes about how we forge Christian unity and illustrates what it really is. There is no date on them and I can't tell whether they were from a book or sermon, or whether they came out of my own pure brain. Whatever, the ideas are so good that I wanted to share them with you, dear reader. I'll just list them as bullet points as they are in my notebook, and then perhaps make some comments.

• Unity can only be forged in the furnace of affliction, in the clash of conflict and the muck of misunderstanding.
• Unity grows out of covenant. First, there must be a decision to be committed to it, no matter what the cost.
• Unity grows and takes shape each time we:

• Determine to think the best of and trust the motives of someone who has hurt us.
• Clash head on in disagreement, but talk and pray through to understanding and agreement.
• Risk conflict to speak the truth in love
• Receive correction, regardless of how it is delivered, choosing to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and not the voice of the speaker.
• Rejoice with those who seem to be more blessed than we are.
• Accept the faults of those God with whom God has put us in relationship, even when they affect us personally, without judging them, knowing that we have equally grievous faults, just different ones.
• Refuse to take up the offenses of others.
• Refuse to judge people or situations until all the facts are known (believing the best and reminding ourselves that one is innocent until proven guilty).
• Believe what God's Word says about a brother or sister as we believe it for ourselves, even when apparent evidence contradicts.

• Every time we do these things, it makes an indelible stamp on our character and we are forever changed a bit more into the image of Christ, who prayed that we might all be one as He and the Father are one, that the world might believe (John 17:20-23).

I don't think I'll make any comments. What else could I say?