By Janna Shick
The Church of God at Connoquenessing is made up of many members. We attend services and take part in many activities together. However, we are not “cookie cutter” people. We have come from very different walks of life and have a variety of interests and opinions. Yet, the beautiful part is that there is perfect unity between us. Unity is more than going to the same church or acknowledging a love for Jesus. This sacred oneness with Christ is only possible through the full plan of redemption.
One cannot be unified without first being holy. The divine power of Salvation and sanctification, the two works of grace taught in the Bible, is the bond that joins us together. It makes worship and service to God more than a ritual; it joins us together as the family of God. It makes no difference of one’s personality, race or gender – for it is salvation that makes an individual a member in God’s church. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
An onlooker might assume the combination of so many variables would lead to chaos within the pew, but that is not the case. There is no debate over what we should or should not believe each year, for we share the same beliefs. The ebb and flow of society’s morals do not cause rifts in the congregation for we are fixed upon one faith. Our doctrine is forever settled for it is founded upon the unchanging Word of God. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Unity causes us to work together for the cause of Christ. We are not pulling in multiple directions or in competition with one another but rather combine our efforts for one purpose: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unity through Christ gives us a genuine love one for one another. When one person suffers or goes through difficulties, they are faithfully carried to God through our prayers. On the other hand, when one member rejoices, we also share in their joy.
Each member contributes to the service of God in different capacities. Some sing in the choir, some are prayer warriors, some are teachers and some take care of the church property. One is not more important than another, nor is one less useful than another. The Bible compares the family of God to the physical body in I Corinthians 12:17-18 “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” Each person is valuable to the work and success of the congregation.
Consider the job of a songwriter who brings multiple elements together to produce beautiful music. If we only heard one part it may not sound like much at all, yet the end result is a lovely harmony. This is a wonderful parallel to the Church of God. We are many members blended together to glorify God! Our children’s choir sings this chorus describing the beauty of unity – “Living in harmony, part of God’s family, singing a melody of praise to the Lord. Traveling this narrow road, helping to bear the load, ‘til we are safely home in heaven’s reward.”
