Anointing in Unity

“How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!” (1, The Message). Sadly, we too often don’t get along, and the church lacks power and anointing when it lacks unity. This “song of ascents”—the kind of song pilgrims would sing as they would go up to the house of the Lord—serves to remind them of this vital truth. Unity is pivotal because success in the Christian life is a team thing. Not many are called to an isolated life of study and prayer—that may well be desirable, but it is not God’s vision of “ekklesia” (the Greek word for church). The Trinity is a community: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and the three co-exist eternally in the closest of relationships. God calls us to maintain that unity here on earth.

In this psalm, God ordains that cohesiveness in community is essential to life and ministry for his people. This is a good counterbalance to our evangelical emphasis on personal faith and commitment. We need each other. Christ loves the church and gave himself for her (Eph. 5:25).

Unity also matters because effectiveness in ministry requires healthy relationships. There is a link here between Aaron’s effectiveness as high priest and the unity of those who are anointing him priest. The Lord commands (ordains) blessing on those who are commissioned by a united people. Anointing oil speaks of fragrance (Exod. 30:22–25), a powerful perfume. God wants to infuse within us, wherever we go, the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. He does this by means of our love for one another and our unity.

Unity does not mean universal agreement. “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity” was the watch phrase of the Puritans. Might it serve every church well today?

What does unity mean in the context of your family, your church, the churches in your area and the worldwide body of Christ?