Unity must mean more than occupying an adjacent space simultaneously. Someone observed that two cats, tied together over a clothesline, would be together but not united. I believe I attended a church like that once upon a time.
The Holy Spirit unites. Division comes naturally. We can divide all by ourselves, with no help from anyone. Unity, on the other hand, comes supernaturally.
When the Spirit filled the believers in Jerusalem, they became one in heart and mind. Surely there were distinctions in the congregation. We know there were Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking members. Barriers broke down in Christ. Some were wealthy and some were poor. But the Spirit so moved that the wealthy became unselfish and shared their possessions. Truly, they shared everything they had, their treasures, time, and talents.
Out of the unity and unselfishness of the believers flowed freedom to proclaim the resurrection with power. In a polarized world, where everyone sees others as, well, other, the church may bear witness to the powers and principalities that the body of Christ is not divided. When we are one in Christ, the world will be won to him.
We have a role to play in unity. Paul told the Ephesians to “make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The Father himself said through the Psalmist, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). There the Lord bestows his blessing of life forevermore (Psalm 133:3).
