As Christians, we are part of a big family; the family of God. According to Hebrews 10:14, we have been perfected through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. This perfecting work makes us part of God’s family, and as family, it’s God’s intention for us to dwell together in unity (John 17:21-23). Beloved in the Lord, the unity that Jesus prayed for in the gospel passage is not just a mere wish but a divine mandate that must be back up with concrete actions. When we come together in harmony, it brings pleasure to God, just as parents are blessed by seeing their children get along. The Bible emphasises the importance of unity in several passages.
For instance, Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” This verse highlights the goodness and pleasantness of unity among believers. The questions we must ask is to what degree have Christians responded to Jesus’ prayer for unity? How can this unity thrive more in our divided world of today? In Ephesians 4:3, Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” When we prioritize unity, we experience the blessings of God, and our relationships are strengthened. However, the unity is not always easy to achieve. In a world marked by conflict and division, Christians are not immune to the challenges of disunity.
For example, during the Rwandan genocide, Christians from different ethnic groups found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict, highlighting the need for unity and reconciliation (Philippians 2:2-4). As Desmond Tutu noted, “We have been wounded so deeply that we have to be restored to health before we can dream of forgiveness.” The experiences of Christians in Nigeria are similar to the above, division amongst Christians is often drawn on the grounds ethnicity, politics, tribes and doctrinal differences. The conflict between Catholics, Protestant and Pentecostals in some countries has been a longstanding challenge to Christian unity. It is true that consciously or unconsciously some of us have established lines of divisions in our spirituality.
Some of us have created the mentality of “the Us” as different from “the Them”. Hence, we gratify that which divides us instead of that which unite us as Christians. Beloved in the Lord, it is important to state that we must not necessary carry out our worship in the same manner in order to prove that we are united. Unity does not mean uniformity but it lies in the unity of faith that we profess in the creed in line with the apostolic traditions. The unity of Christians speaks to our common sense of humanity; to love and be more empathetic and at the same time draws our attention to our common faith. In the final analysis, we must keep the words of St. Paul in Ephesians 4: 5-6 in mind that there is only “one Lord, one faith and one baptism.”
Let us not create or become another god and let us not lead others to another faith or preach another baptism outside Christ. What must we do to foster Christian unity? There cannot be unity among Christians if there is no shared beliefs, knowledge, understanding, mission and love amongst us. Hence, in Nigeria the call for Christian unity is a collective responsibility requiring active engagement from all Christians and not only for the theologians and Church leaders. In addition to the above, the late supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis encouraged all Christians to promote the unity of Christians through shared actions, prayers and work. Christians from different denominations should be able to pray and work together without the feeling of shame or discrimination. This should be encouraged in our schools, places of work and religious gatherings.
This should motivate us to prioritise unity in our relationships with fellow Christians. By doing so, we demonstrate our love for God and for one another, and we experience the blessings of unity (1 John 4:7-8). As we strive for unity, we must recognize that it’s not always easy. We have different perspectives, experiences, and opinions. However, with a commitment to unity, we can overcome our differences and come together in harmony. As Augustine of Hippo wrote, “Unity is the bond of love, and love is the fulfilling of the law.” By prioritizing unity, we reflect the love of God to a world that desperately needs to see it (John 17:23). But if we fight ourselves, how can preach Christ.
Beloved in the Lord, unity is a divine mandate that requires effort and commitment from us. The unity of Christian is not an option that we are called to exercise our power of choice over. As Christians, we must embrace it. Yes! We must prioritise unity, despite our differences, and work towards a shared future. By doing so, we will experience the goodness and pleasantness of unity, and we will reflect the love of God to a world that needs it. As the apostle Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). I will like to conclude this reflection by inviting us to say the prayer for the unity of Christians.
Prayer for unity of Christians
Almighty and Eternal God, You keep together those You have united. Look kindly on all who follow Jesus your Son. We are consecrated to You by our common baptism; make us all one in the fullness of faith and keep us one in the fellowship of love. Lord, pour out upon us the fullness of Your mercy and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, remove division among Christians. Let your Church rise closely as a sign for all the nations, that the world may be filled with the light of Your Holy Spirit, and believe in Jesus Christ.
Hear the prayer of Your people Lord, and bring the hearts of believers together in the praise and common sorrow for our sins. Heal all divisions among Christians that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of Your Church and move together as one people to eternal life in your kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen
• Rev. Fr. Benjamin Odii, Associate Parish Priest, St. Pio Catholic Church, Surulere, Lagos.
