Does unity mean everyone has to agree? - Unity - TouchPoints

1 Corinthians 12:12, 18-21The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. . . . But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

Unity does not mean that all our opinions must be the same, or even that all our goals must be the same. God has created us all differently, which means there will be differences of opinion and approach. But our common purpose should be the same—to serve and honor God. Unity is ruined when selfish interests take priority over interests that serve the entire group.

Psalm 34:14Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Romans 12:17-18Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Ephesians 4:3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:11-16Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Living peaceably with others does not mean avoiding conflict, but handling conflict appropriately. Conflict handled poorly leads to fractured relationships. Avoiding conflict altogether leads to the same end because it leaves hurt and anger unresolved. Rather, when conflict arises, do not retaliate in anger, but respond with love, relying on the Holy Spirit to give the patient endurance that contributes to resolving problems.