Do You Hear That Buzzing Sound?

Guest Post by Powell Smith

As you read this, I want you to think of the latest “buzz word”.

What do you mean “buzz word”?

There is a word or phrase that seems to fly out of everybody’s mouth within seconds of speaking with them. If you need some inspiration, turn the news on for 10 minutes. Keep a tally of the most commonly used words.

Are you serious?

Yeah, try it. Pause reading this and turn the news on for 10 minutes.

Did you do it? What does your list look like? I will go out on a limb as say you heard repeatedly: racism, justice, unity.

When I was a student at VCU, I was very much involved in campus ministry. Politics was not my thing, as there was hardly enough time in the day for classes, work, and campus ministry without having to stay on top of current events.

During those years one buzz word came through campus ministry circles: Community. It seemed no matter which Bible study you attended or ministry group you were a part of, the word “Community” was on everybody’s lips.

Many students were engaging in Bible study for the first time. The realization came upon us that Christian community was organic, and could not be dictated into order by a board of…who-evers.

Only in recent years have I been tuning into news organizations. Mainly talk radio. (I know…it’s such a dad thing to do).

What’s this dude getting at?

This is not intended to be a trip down memory lane of my time in college. But I want to point out the buzz word I pick up on today in almost every publication I read, hear, or watch. It’s the word “Unity.”

I hope he isn’t going to suggest we all hold hands in a circle and sing.

Think about the pitch you hear to achieve unity in our nation.

You likely hear, “despite our differences, we have to come together” or “we have to find some common ground”.

Depending on the speaker or writer, their message on Unity can be quite compelling. They might sway you from your personal convictions for the sake of “getting along”.

I have to be bluntly honest. When I hear a politician or talking news head yammer on about unity, I get defensive. I ask, “What do they want from me?” or “What beliefs or values do they want me to compromise?”

And when I get down to the brass tacks of their plea for unity, compromise is typically at the center of it. This is a secular practice of achieving unity.

But I do not find this kind of unity in the Bible. It is not achieved by compromise but by submission.

Turn to Ephesians 4:14-16:

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head; that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament. Grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Did you catch it?

Christ is the head, we the believers are the body, alive and working together.

Think of how your brain works. It dictates what your body does at is commanded. Though a hungry stomach suggests a snack, your brain ultimately decides when to and what to snack on. I know it is a silly parallel to draw, but the same principle applies.

Christ, the head, is the one who ultimately leads His body. As the Jesus follower desires Unity with the LORD, as led by the Holy Spirit, that believer must submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

When believers are in submission to the Lord Jesus, they will naturally be in unity with one another. Not in spite of their differences, but complementing the differences. The body of Christ is diverse on purpose.

Let me be very clear on two points of what Biblical Unity is not.

1. Biblical Unity is not submission to an institution.

2. Biblical Unity is not the same as uniformity.

   
   

This question runs through my head time and again. What if our churches submitted to the Lord and achieved unity as described in the Bible? I wonder what our country would look like then?

Anyway, I was just thinking…

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L. Powell Smith lives in Fredericksburg, VA with his wife Lauren and daughter Verity. They are the youth leaders at New Hope UMC. Powell is the owner and operator of Veritas Home Inspections LLC. Lauren is blessed to be at home with Verity and works part-time as an independent Norwex consultant.