I was fundraising for charity at a traffic light, and I noticed something interesting. Every time another person walked by, they would give me a sort of laughing smile and nod, and I would do the same. It was like everyone on foot had some kind of link or camaraderie. It was like some kind of momentary fraternity or fellowship between the people darting between cars and carefully navigating the yellow lines.
It got me thinking about the body of Christ and our interactions with one another. Ephesians 2:19 says “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” This camaraderie and bond is meant to be visible, and we should be able to connect and relate to our fellow Christians on an immediate and profound level. When you see another follower of Christ pursuing their walk with Him, it should be an encouraging and confirming sight.
Unity within Christ is very important. As humans, we gravitate toward our “herds,” the groups of people that we identify with, relate to, and are similar to. As Christians, we can get distracted and caught up in denominations, doctrinal differences, and even cultures and upbringings. This prevents us from achieving the “good and pleasant” dwelling together in unity that the Bible discusses.1
When He was on earth, Jesus prayed for unity among those who believe: “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”2 This doesn’t mean that we should never disagree or have different opinions, but it does mean that we see each other as on the same team, in the same family, and with the same Great Commission—to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all we can.
The world is not our home, but we have a family of millions of brothers and sisters who go through trials and troubles and struggles just like we do. If people can bond over something as simple as being on foot in a busy street, regardless of what they’re doing or where they’re going, and see each other as experiencing the same things, we should be able to feel a connection to other believers who have similar faith and similar goals.