Last week Tassie and I had the pleasure of going to the White Pines Ski Area with the Green River congregation. Even though we did not ski, we had a wonderful time fellowshipping with them. Too often unity between congregations is an unfortunate afterthought. This was never God’s plan.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! -Psalm 133:1

In this short psalm, David writes about the blessing of being unified. Israel was spread out, and yet the Jews viewed themselves as a single nation, a unified people, God’s people. The people of God are called to a similar type of unity today.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. -Ephesians 4:2-6

Paul’s concern is two-fold here, the local Ephesian congregation and the church as a whole. Unity within a local congregation is good but incomplete. As we spend time together sharing our spiritual convictions, we bless and are blessed in our walks with God. This is not only true in a local congregation but in all the congregations of God’s people.

Fellowship and humility preserve and promote the unity of the Spirit. The newly formed church shows this by its actions after Pentecost.

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. -Acts 2:41-47

The 3,000 new Christians from Pentecost did not constitute a megachurch. They were meeting in many small groups.  Yet competition for the largest congregation was not a concern. The church sought unity through its fluidity. This unity was not a blind acceptance, however.  Its basis was the hope of their calling. Their faith was increased as they “[devoted] themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship.”

Unity matters to God, but not only within the local congregations. The church must be unified in our cities, states, and countries. Only then will we be able to be truly pleasing to God and a light to the fallen world.