[Around the Table] Everyone Is InvitedSample

Unity And Community

Jesus was asked, “what is the greatest commandment?” He responded that the greatest commandment is “love the Lord your God.” To this, He added, “love your neighbor as yourself.” He linked two big ideas together under the umbrella of one great commandment, including the concept of community. Community is cultivated around the table. Think about how many lunch meetings you have, how many dinner gatherings.

In that word "community" you see another word: unity. Jesus cared about unity. If you look at the verse right before Jesus gives the greatest commandment, He says “the Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Mark 12:29). We know, contextually, by going to John 17 with that great high priestly prayer that Jesus prayed at the Last Supper: Jesus was passionate about unity, especially in the body of Christ. Unity is a deeply important priority in the kingdom of God. Now, unity does not have to mean uniformity. Not everybody has to think the same, look the same, dress the same, or act the same. Often, I pray that God would expand this church family to look incredibly different, because that’s what the kingdom of God is like. It’s beautiful. If we were all the same, unity would be easy, would it not?

But there is such rich, God-glorifying beauty when a diverse community chooses to pursue and portray unity. That’s what we see on Pentecost, in Scripture. Right from the start we see community. On the day of Pentecost, all these people would come from all over to celebrate this religious festival of feasts in Jerusalem. Right from the beginning, we see unity and community. All the believers were meeting together in one place. The by-product of Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension resulted in a call to authentic community.

Pentecost enables us today to have a beautiful diversity in authentic community. Only the Holy Spirit can bring all kinds of different people together under the banner of the name of Jesus, and it works. If you’ve looked at the news much lately or followed social media, you know the devil dances and delights in division. Authentic unity and community require the Holy Spirit. Pentecost enabled it.