Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
– Romans 12:16
Unity is a doctrine most precious to Paul. It gave him joy to see Born-Again Believers unified (Philippians 2:2). Paul also indicates that unity is accompanied by peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). Disunity disgusted Paul. To Paul, disunity was a sure sign of immaturity and earthly-mindedness (1 Corinthians 1:10-18). The command in our verse is given to members of the local church. “Be of the same mind one toward another.”
To have the same mind is to think the same way. This does not necessarily imply you will agree on every little thing. If we think the same way, we will have the same purpose, desires, and outlook. Do you know how it is to converse with someone and in the conversation find out that you two have the same views on a particular subject? Many times what accompanies this discovery is a more unified conversation and friendship. This is especially true if you are in a minority. If you are surrounded by those who think differently from you, it is exciting to find someone with similar views as you have – there is a connection of likemindedness. Solid, Bible-Believing, Born-Again Believers are a minority here on this earth. We are surrounded at the workplace by lost, unregenerate people. At the church, we have things in common. You would think that as a minority on earth, every single member in the church would be likeminded one with another. In any other scenario we find ourselves in, we have this exciting thrill of finding others who are likeminded. We’ll get in a conversation with a lost, worldly person and be absolutely thrilled to agree on politics or a favorite movie. But why is it that you won’t find this abundant amount of thrilling unity in our churches when in theory we should have things in common? I believe the answer is very simple: maybe we DON’T all have the same purpose, goal, and outlook. We SHOULD but we DON’T. In churches across the country, local churches are filled with members functioning as little more than weights to hold the pews down. Within 5 seconds of the preacher ending the message, you will hear talk of where lunch will take place. Church is more than a scheduled meeting which sometimes bumps over into lunchtime! In THEORY, we should all be striving to win souls to the Lord, use our spiritual gifts, and help to build up our church. That SHOULD be our PURPOSE or DESIRE. Is it though? In THEORY, we should all be striving to run the spiritual race, growing into sound, mature Christians, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. That SHOULD be our GOAL. But is it? In THEORY, we should have the same views toward the world and heaven. The world is not our home. We should all separate ourselves from sin and look forward to heaven. That SHOULD be our OUTLOOK. But is it? Born-Again Believers ALREADY have things in common! We have all been bought by the blood! We have been given the grace to the serve in God’s plan! We all have an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for US! We already have these things in common! But to be likeminded, we must have the same purpose, goal, and outlook.
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” – Philippians 2:2