Soulfood

Aaron Sironi

Ephesians 4:3

Psalm 133 How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. It’s a wonderful thought! Until we have a conflict…then the wonderful thought disappears. In an instant we become combative and uncompromising.

Unity and forging unity takes us to very vulnerable places. It involves managing conflict. And conflict is always just around the corner. And we are selfish and sinful. Canceling others is easier than seeking unity. But the stakes could not be higher. In the church we must learn to practice the art of unity.

Example of George Watson and C.S. Lewis – Watson opposed Lewis in many public debates but he remembered Lewis as a paragon of the art of disagreeing graciously.

The art of unity seems lost. We don’t currently have many (any?) good examples of those who disagree well. But Paul gives us many lessons. We will look at Philippians 2 and 4. There are two conflicts in the Philippian church. First, they were in conflict with the culture around them. Philippi was peopled with retired soldiers who had strong loyalty to Caesar and the Empire. Second, there was a conflict between Euodia and Syntyche. Their conflict threatened to destroy the gospel witness in the city.

What is unity? It is NOT unanimity. Unanimity is the absence of disagreement. We often say Great Minds Think Alike (but we leave out the second part – But Fools Seldom Differ). Unity is not about seeking compromise or agreement. It is about being committed to disagreeing well.

Paul doesn’t say we can’t disagree. He does tell us to be reasonable in such a way that it is evident to all. We must seek to be praiseworthy, excellent, true, etc – this is about being of the same mind. When Paul writes about rejoicing this also applies to seeking unity and disagreeing well. Being reasonable in disagreement requires us to practice the virtues of Phil. 4:8.

Remember Paul’s visit to Philippi results in a riot where he is beaten and imprison. Talk about conflict! Paul as a citizen had the right to prosecute the officials who had wrongly imprisoned him. How does Paul respond? By singing and praying in jail. They show their reasonableness. They show their joy.

Whatever is true

Whatever is honorable

Whatever is just/fair

Whatever is pure

Whatever is lovely

Whatever is commendable

If there is any excellence

If there is anything worthy of praise

Think on those things. Be reasonable in your thinking.

What is the reasonableness that builds unity in 2025? Robbie George and Cornel West – best friends at Princeton though they are totally opposed to one another politically and culturally. They disagree well. Their priority is to seek the truth, not to persuade or score points.

Reasonableness wears the virtues in v8

Paul is linking back to chapter 2 “in humility, consider others more significant than yourself.” Humility is the oil that keeps the engine of unity lubricated. Without humility the process overheats and stops running. Humility in this context is taking a relatively low view of my own opinion. A deferential attitude on the part of all is required – and it only takes one person who is not humble to cause an engine to break down.

Paul reminds the Philippians of his own example – be like that in the way you treat others. Be like that in the way you interact with one another. Think more about the good of the Philippian jailer than you do about your own freedom. Look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Even when you are in the right. Humility doesn’t think less of oneself, but thinks of oneself less. It puts the opinions and interests of others above its own.

Looking out for ourselves is the root the of division and disunity. We have to turn away from ourselves with all our might and go as hard as we can towards others.

Example of Earnest Shackleton. The unity of this group came from their commitment to one another (story of the spilled milk). To living together. The mindset that unless we cling to and serve one another we will die. Because we are in Christ we must put others before ourselves. That is the example of Christ for us. He gives his life – his body and blood – and his Spirit to us, poured out for our life.

Unity is being for one another in spite of disagreements.