The Key For Unity In The Church

The discipleship of Jesus means that I am learning from Jesus how to do what he does. If others are also learning this same thing then both of our efforts will naturally lead us to a similar place and unity and community are able to flourish. 

If this is the case, why does it seem like the followers of Jesus are more fractured and divided than ever? 

I am making the assumption that discipleship is actually happening among Christians. I am not sure that it is. So, without discipleship then you don’t have people taking on the character of Jesus and instead are chasing their own whims, preferences, and priorities.

Here are a few ways that we can actively pursue discipleship and lead to unity among Christ’s followers:

1. Believe that change is possible. You really can Grow Up. You really can take on the character of Christ. It has been done from Peter and the original disciples to the present day. Transformation is possible in Jesus. Believe that that is true today and start to live in the reality that God wants you to mature and will make it happen if we are open to his transformation and do the things that Jesus taught us to do.
2. Practice the Habits of Jesus. Jesus made a habit of praying, of memorizing scripture, of quoting scripture, of being alone, of serving, of fasting, of celebrating, of hospitality, and of worshiping. These aren’t just nice things that Jesus did but they were an essential part of his own sustained spiritual power and relationship with his Father. 
3. Love Jesus. I love my daughters by working for their good and by serving them. There is a direct correlation between our love and our actions. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” If we are only taking from Jesus and not giving something back in love then do we really love him or just the idea of him?

Dallas Willard says, “There is nothing wrong with the church that discipleship will not cure.” A fractured and broken church will not be healed through information, bold declaration, or ecclesial and social reform. The fractured and broken church will be healed by professed followers of Jesus actually doing what he says, practicing what he practices, and loving him in obedience. All other paths of Christianity will fail.