Unity

Today, we're going to conduct a test.
Not a test of how much we know—or give.
A unity test.

A unity test?

Yes. We may discover we've been using the wrong measure.

TEST #1 — GIVING

A church sends thousands of dollars to help Christians overseas. Are they united?

Of course. They're helping fellow believers.

Maybe. Because we can send money thousands of miles away and still ignore the struggling believer sitting three rows behind us.

Exactly. Paul's collection wasn't simply about moving money from Corinth to Jerusalem. He wanted Jewish and Gentile believers—separated by culture, history, and prejudice—to recognize one another as one family in Christ.

TEST #2 — DOCTRINE

Everyone in the church believes exactly the same doctrine. Are they united?

That sounds like unity.

Or conformity.

Doctrine matters. Truth matters. But here's the tension:
Is Christian unity created by everyone agreeing with one another—or by everyone belonging to Christ?

But if we disagree about doctrine, doesn't that destroy unity?

Not necessarily. Disagreement can test unity without destroying it.
If unity means, “We are together because we believe exactly the same things,” every disagreement becomes a threat.

But if our unity is rooted in Christ, disagreement can become an opportunity to listen, study, bear with one another, and remain brothers and sisters while seeking truth.
That doesn't make truth unimportant. It makes love important while we pursue truth.

So a church could be doctrinally correct and still be relationally broken?

Absolutely. We can defend truth while wounding people. We can be right about doctrine and wrong in spirit.
If our definition of unity cannot survive honest disagreement, perhaps what we've created is not unity—but uniformity.

TEST #3 — INSTITUTIONAL LOYALTY

Everyone faithfully supports the church—offerings, missions, programs. United?

I would say yes.

I'm not so sure. Someone can be deeply loyal to an institution while being spiritually disconnected from Christ and other believers.

That's the distinction. Christ is the Head of the church. The institution serves His mission, but it is not Christ. Our ultimate allegiance belongs to Him.

TEST #4 — ACCOUNTABILITY

But I've heard leaders say, “ Your responsibility is to be faithful in your tithes and offerings. Don't worry about how the hierarchy uses the money. They have to answer to God.”

Isn't that true?

Leaders certainly will answer to God. But does that mean members have no legitimate concern about how God's money is handled?
Look at Paul. He made the handling of the collection accountable and entrusted it to trustworthy representatives.

Faithfulness in giving and accountability in handling belong together.

So, asking responsible questions isn't automatically disloyal?

No. Accountability isn't the enemy of unity. It can protect unity.
Members are accountable for what they give; leaders for what they receive and administer. Both answer to God.

TEST #5 — RECIPROCITY

Now Romans 15: 26–27. Why were the Gentile believers willing to contribute to Jerusalem?

Because the believers there were poor?

Yes, but Paul gives another reason. They had received spiritual blessings from them.
Their giving wasn't simply, “You have a need; we have resources.” It was, “We have received from you; now we share with you.”

So this wasn't charity from superior people to inferior people.

No. It was fellowship—reciprocity, family.

THE FINAL TEST

Now, let's make this personal.
You give generously. You support missions. You contribute to evangelism. You faithfully support the church.
But there's one person in your congregation you cannot stand.
Are you united?

That changes the question.

Maybe we've been measuring unity with the wrong ruler.

Exactly. Paul's collection wasn't merely asking, “ How much will you give?”
It was asking, “Do you really believe these people belong to you—and that you belong to them?”

Paul calls the collection service, grace, blessing, worship, and fellowship.
That's much more than fundraising.

Then what's the real offering?

Perhaps it's not simply what crosses the offering plate.
Perhaps it's what we're willing to let Christ remove from the walls between us.

Pride?
Prejudice?

Sometimes.

The need to be right?

Often.

Then what does genuine unity look like?

People who are different choosing to love because they belong to the same Christ.

So here's the final question:
If my offering says, “We are one,” does the way I treat God's people say the same thing?

Paul wasn't merely collecting money. He was looking for evidence that the gospel had broken down the walls between God's people.