I learned an important truth today after attending a county-wide pastor’s luncheon. Unity, of course, was the common message, although the theme was evangelism. Don’t mistake this account to be purposed in portraying the event as poor. The time was good, as well as the food. The problem that arose, and thus the truth that I learned, was related to unity. It is this, that unity is something we practice, not that we create. I guess I’ve never really thought about it in that light. Unity describes the likeness of two or more things. Not that they are like in every aspect, but that they share something. This is a characteristic. When Christ prayed that we would be unified, or when Paul exhorted those in the New Testament churches to be unified, this appeal was not that we or they should make unity. Unity is a characteristic of the church not because of what we do or do not, but because of who Christ is. Therefore, we are to practice unity, not make it. In fact, we can’t make it! Scripture commands us to be unified; therefore, we must start practicing it. It seems picky to some I suppose, but this is a critical point. So often today among modern evangelicals, or those who call themselves such, methodology is esteemed higher than doctrine. Evangelicals rejoice, and even rush to buy the new book or tape, when some novel method is introduced for evangelism, or worship, or Bible study. Rather than the command to go into all the world, or the command to worship God, or the command to know and study His Word, modern evangelicals get excited only if there is an easy, catchy, 3-step plan to follow. If pastors would begin to study Scripture instead of new trends and methods then wouldn’t they be able to better equip the Believers in their midst to carry out the work of ministry? There is nothing wrong, in and of itself, with methods; however, I believe as I stated previously, that methods have become more important than doctrine. And so, many pastors today pursue methods of unity rather than unity itself. They create organizations and groups and say, "Look, now we’re unified!" Pastors should be teaching their flock how to practice unity because unity is a characteristic of the Church, not because of anything we do, but because of what Christ has done. We are unified in Christ, period! Now let’s act like it! Methods and new tactics won’t develop this in the Church. It will only happen when people’s hearts are illuminated by the truth of God’s Word, and are changed by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, there are two things man can do in this process. Teach the Word, and pray for the Holy Spirit to work. If pastors and church leaders would start doing that today, I believe we’d be in for a true reformation.