"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another" Ephesians 4:25, ESV

"Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together," Corrie Ten Boom.

The want for unity, community, togetherness flows outward from a heart's othercenteredness. It stems from an investment in others –a knowing, an understanding. It is a want –an inclination for harmony within the Church –the Body of Christ. Paul's desire for the Church was that it be "knit together in love" (Colossians 2:2); alive in Christ, united in Christ, adopted as sons and daughters; heirs who together share their knowledge of Christ, edify and strengthen each other as each contributes something unique to the Body –joints and ligaments (Ephesians 4:16), hands, feet, eyes, and ears (1 Corinthians 12:14-21).

A Church Body missing its feet or eyes would hobble along crippled by the lack, but hale and hearty "with each part...working properly" (Ephesians 4:16) grows the Body in love. It is this love; Christ's love –that creates unity in the midst of diversity; quelling hostility and fostering humility. It is there –when we lose our self importance, that the ability to truly serve and love others comes into sharp focus. It is there, when we are devoted to one another, belong to one another, "members one of another" (Romans 12:5), we notice when an eye has been blinded or an arm amputated. It is there we see when a foot is broken, an ear has gone deaf, or another part has been left along the wayside. It is there we learn to guide, build up, care for, and protect others with the patient love that Christ first showed us (1 John 4:19). 

In this life together we grieve and rejoice alongside our brothers and sisters and the Body is bolstered. Share your ideas with Church family, seek out guidance to idenitify your ministerial strengths from our Elders and Pastor Bob, become invested in those within the Body whom you may not know well. All of these things lead to growth and help to create a solid church family, who speak truth and life to each other building them up upon the solid rock foundation that is only found in Christ. 

The following excerpt is from an article by Kelli Minter exploring unity amidst diversity in the Church:

Unity is a big deal to Jesus.

So much so that He said our love for one another would be the defining marker of our faith (John 13:35).

Whenever I spend time with believers of differing denominations, backgrounds and cultures, I am challenged and inspired. I am stronger.

That day in the blueberry fields while crouched in the midst of numerous varieties growing alongside one another for the betterment of each other, I saw this phenomenon at work. Proliferation. Health. Strength. Diversity. The blueberry bushes were doing it so well. And so must the church...

Please click link to continue reading on Ann Voskamp's (author of One Thousand Gifts) blog: Why Unity in the Church and Amongst Us Matters | A Holy Experience