UNITY.....Become ONE

UNITY…Become ONE I think sometimes we have a wrong definition of Unity. Unity does not mean Unison as in everyone thinking and doing the exact same thing. It actually means Harmony in regards to marriage. We are created in the image and likeness of God, He makes us the way we are, your strengths are usually my weaknesses and vice versa. Unity/Unison does not mean that we are to change each other to be like the other. We (all people) have to learn how to work together to incorporate those strengths & weaknesses. Which is usually where the contention lies in both marriage and in the church?

Webster defines Unity as:

unity

Main Entry: uni·ty Pronunciation: \ˈyü-nə-tē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural uni·ties Etymology: Middle English unite, from Anglo-French unité, from Latin unitat-, unitas, from unus one — more at one Date: 14th century 1 a: the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness b (1): a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation unity> (2): identity element2 a: a condition of harmony : accord b: continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)3 a: the quality or state of being made one : unification b: a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect; also : the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character4: a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole5: any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poetics and requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day6capitalized : a 20th century American religious movement that emphasizes spiritual sources of health and prosperity

Check out Harmony:

harmony

Main Entry: har·mo·ny Pronunciation: \ˈhär-mə-nē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural har·mo·nies Etymology: Middle English armony, from Anglo-French armonie, from Latin harmonia, from Greek, joint, harmony, from harmos joint — more at arm Date: 14th century 1archaic : tuneful sound : melody2 a: the combination of simultaneous musical notes in a chord b: the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords c: the science of the structure, relation, and progression of chords3 a: pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts harmony of color and line> b: correspondence, accord harmony with her neighbors> c: internal calm : tranquillity4 a: an interweaving of different accounts into a single narrative b: a systematic arrangement of parallel literary passages (as of the Gospels) for the purpose of showing agreement or harmony

Think about this for a second. In music to be in Unison would have everyone singing the exact same part (usually the melody). When the melody is sung by multiple people it sounds good but rather plain, there is little or no differentiation between the voices. When the harmony is added the song takes on a whole different tone and sound. It becomes fuller and with more impact and the differences between the voices is easier to hear.  Differences are uniqueness, and are needed.

It is like; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit there are 3 but they are one.   They each have their own personality, their own responsibility, their own work to do. They each do it differently but they are still one, because even though they do it differently they are still moving forward in the same direction. Meaning they are together but not the same.   I know I have missed this, I didn't think that way until the LORD showed this to me this morning. I thought Unity was Unison as in we are the same and everything has to be done 1 way and 1 way only.

In Gen 11 at The "Tower of Babel" the people had one language, they were in unity. Meaning they all had different jobs and even some of those that had the same job had different ways of doing it. Most importantly they were moving forward to a common goal and desire. They were just doing it to exalt man above God.

Think about worship, we all worship our Lord   & Savior and our Father differently but we still worship. If we are doing it in Spirit & in Truth then it is still a sweet fragrance to Him.

Unity does not mean that you conform to my thoughts & ways or that I conform to yours, it means that we are lined up moving forward in & with CHRIST.   Harmony allows for differences just like the different parts of a song (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) flowing along with the melody. Harmony in a song is not everyone singing the same part, notes or melody (unison) but everyone singing the same song with different parts.   CHRIST is the melody and we are the harmony. Our suitable help meet is not and will not be the same as us; it is all about finding a point of agreement.

If GOD wanted two people that thought exactly the same way about everything then instead of Adam and Eve it probably would have been Adam and Steve or Eve and Elaine.

I apologize for trying to conform you to be or think like me. I apologize for putting us in discord by misunderstanding Unity.

Here are some of other definitions:

unison

Main Entry: uni·son Pronunciation: \ˈyü-nə-sən, -nə-zən\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English unisoun, from Middle French unisson, from Medieval Latin unisonus having the same sound, from Latin uni- + sonus sound — more at sound Date: 15th century 1 a: identity in musical pitch; specifically : the interval of a perfect prime b: the state of being so tuned or sounded c: the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves2: a harmonious agreement or union : concord — unison adjective — in unison 1: in perfect agreement : so as to harmonize exactly in unison>2: at the same time : simultaneously

accord[1,verb]accord[2,noun]d'accord

Main Entry: ¹ac·cord Pronunciation: \ə-ˈkȯrd\ Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French acorder, from Vulgar Latin *accordare, from Latin ad- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart Date: 12th century transitive verb1: to bring into agreement : reconcile2: to grant or give especially as appropriate, due, or earnedintransitive verb1archaic : to arrive at an agreement2obsolete : to give consent3: to be consistent or in harmony : agree —usually used with withaccords with the known facts>

accord[1,verb]accord[2,noun]d'accord

   Main Entry: ²accord Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French acord, from acorder Date: 14th century 1 a: agreement, conformity accord with the company's policy> b: a formal reaching of agreement : compact, treaty2: balanced interrelationship : harmony3obsolete : assent4: voluntary or spontaneous impulse to act accord>

John 17:11...(Jesus speaking) "And now I am not in the world any longer, but these, my followers are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep them in your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are."

John 17:22...(Jesus speaking) "And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one as we are one."


Be Blessed and be a blessing!
David W Binford
04-07-2008