When Christians Dwell in Unity

Conflict with people is inevitable and getting along with people is a learned skill. We are not born with the ability to get along with others. We are not with a propensity towards wanting things our own way (siblings)

The church is a group of saved by grace sinners who are in the process of being transformed in the image of Jesus.

Our missions statement: Investing in people to experience Christ’s transforming power, together. You know what would make this missions statement easier to achieve? If you took people out of the equation.

The Bible paints this beautiful picture of people getting along with each other. More importantly, it shows how you and I can experience such life together.

Come with me to Psalm 133.

Psalm 133 (ESV)

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

This passage is written with the family of God in mind (i.e. brothers). Psalm 133 is a Psalm of Ascent (15 songs for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for annual festivals).

Traveling to Jerusalem would be a long road trip. Pilgrims are naturally tired from the trip. Once people arrived to Jerusalem, their final destination, they would encounter hundreds of thousands of fellow pilgrims who are also tired, pushing through narrow gates and elbowing each other through the narrow streets of Jerusalem.

Psalm 133 is an appeal for harmony and getting along lest tempers quickly flare.

Notice the words that King David uses to describe when the family of God dwells in unity: it is good and pleasant, “something which makes life not only bearable but enjoyable for everyone.” (Robert Davidson).

Two Metaphors: a beard and a mountain

V.2 & 3 begin with the phrase, “it’s like..” to illustrate what unity is like.

First metaphor is an oily beard.

Psalm 133:2 “2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!”

In order to understand the oily beard reference, we must enter the ancient Israel biblical culture.

V.2 is a reference to Aaron’s ordination as priest. “precious oil”

Leviticus 8:12 “12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”

This anointing oil “specially prepared from the finest spices for use in the priestly ordination ceremony (cf. Exod. 30:22–32). The point of the simile may well lie in the special nature of this oil and its fragrance. So harmony among the pilgrims who belong to the family of God has its own special fragrance.” (Robert Davidson)

Notice something else about the oil. It’s poured on Aaron’s head and it runs down to the beard, to the collar and the rest of his robes.

Unity among the people of God is achieved in the same way. It must flow from Jesus, who is the head of the church down to the body which is the church.

The second metaphor is mountain dew.

Psalm 133:3 “3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

Mt. Hermon is the highest mountain in northern Israel. The high altitude provided moist air, rain and snow in the colder season. As a result, the dew of Mt. Hermon provided lush greenery.

When the family of God lives in unity, “It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.” (NIV) Unity among the people of God is like the life-giving dew of Mt. Hermon.

Like the oil running down on Aaron’s beard, the dew from Mt. Hermon falls down on the people of God. Unity falls down from God to us. God is at the source of unity. Gospel-centered unity cannot be manufactured it must be Holy Spirit poured upon the people of God.

When that unity is present the Lord commands blessing and life over the people of God.

If you want to experience the blessing and life of God in your life then check how you are treating your fellow brother and sister in Christ.

12 ways to promote Christian unity

Psalm 133:1 declares, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Satan would love nothing more than to bring confusion and division among the people of God in order for them to “bite and devour one another” (Galatians 5:15)

Here are twelve ways how you can promote unity in the family of God and fight back against Satan’s attacks.

#1. It is better to dwell on other Christians’ strengths rather than on their weaknesses and imperfections.

Here’s a sad reality: we have this fundamental problem where our default mode is to focus on the negative aspects of people.

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The context: two ladies not getting along

#2. Love and union best promote safety and security.

There is strength in numbers.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Illustration: paint sticks

#3. Consider that God commands and requires Christians to love one another. See John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8; Hebrews 13:1; 1 John 3:18

John 13:34-35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

#4. It is better to eye the things in which Christians agree rather than those things in which they differ.

That is not to say that sound doctrine does not matter. We must major in the majors but also minor on the minors.

We could spend our time making a big deal out of matters of opinions and preferences.

Service times

Jesus is coming back. Timing?

Ephesians 4:3 “[be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

#5. Consider that God is the God of peace, Christ the Prince of peace, and the Spirit the Spirit of peace. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

We reflect the character of God in how we live with each other.

#6. It is necessary for Christians to make more care and conscience of maintaining their peace with God.

You cannot experience horizontal peace unless you first experience vertical peace.

Pay attention to your relationship with God. Peace flows from God down to us and down to others.

Proverbs 16:7 “7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

#7. It is necessary to dwell much upon the relationship and union of the people of God. We are fellow pilgrims traveling towards the same destination (Psalm 133:1)

We are a family.

Genesis 13:8 “8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.”

#8. Count the cost of disunity. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

The cost of disunity is too high: it damages our testimony in our community.

Our gatherings are no longer good and pleasant.

John 17:20-23 “20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

#9. It is good and honorable to be the first in seeking peace and reconciliation.

Matthew 5:23-24 “23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

#10. Christian should agree to work together, making the Word the only touchstone and judge of their words and actions.

1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

We are better together than we are apart. We can accomplish so much more for the Lord when we work together.

#11. Judge yourself more than you judge others. (Matthew 7:3-5)

Matthew 7:3-5 “3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

One of the things that we need to be careful is assigned motive to other people’s words and actions.

#12. Christians should labor to be clothed with humility.

1 Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

Humility is the antidote for pride and division.

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