The Psalmist declared, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). Nowhere can we see this more than in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider the preparation for such in Jesus choosing His apostles (Matt. 10:1-4; Luke 6:13-16). From His disciples, He chose two among the twelve that were politically and ideologically on polar-opposite extremes. Matthew (Levi) was a publican (tax collector), as we see Jesus calling him to discipleship in Matthew 9:9-13. As the text unfolds, the Jewish leaders hated publicans, considering them to be traitors of the highest sort, and loathing them for their corruptness (cf. Luke 18:11; 19:1-8). On the other hand, we have Simon (not to be confused with Cephas, or Peter), who was a Zealot, which historians say was one of the strictest sects of Judaism. Thus, these individuals would have little to nothing in common. Yet, Jesus brought them together with a common purpose. They worked together for three years in preparation for the coming kingdom. Nevertheless, in noting the pairings together as we have Matthew and Luke record, we note that Matthew went with Thomas. Thus, Jesus did not treat them cruelly by throwing them together and forcing them to work closely so soon. Yet, the times that they were together with Jesus were times wherein they would bond.
When Jesus established His church as we have recorded in Acts 2, we have an interesting statement of fact regarding the work of the Holy Spirit through the miraculous abilities the early church would gain. On that particular Pentecost Day, Peter quoted from Joel when he declared,
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)
Thus, implicit within this prophecy and its fulfillment is the fact that the Holy Spirit would enable miraculous abilities both to male and female, both to young and old, both to masters and servants. Thus, the early worship assemblies would see a vivid portrait of unity in equality (cf. Gal. 3:28).
I recently read a quote of DA Carson from his book, “Love in Hard Places.” While I may not necessarily agree with everything that he says in his book, I do agree with this statement:
The church is…made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs or anything else of that sort. Christians come together…because they have all been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance…. They are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.
Therefore, when I consider the impact that Jesus has on us in His church, I realize that I ought to be able to get along with my brethren. When difficulties arise (as they always will), then I should seek immediate reconciliation (cf. Matt. 5:23-26; 18:15-20). In this way, I understand that while we in the church of our Lord may be quite different in many different ways, we are united in Christ with a common bond. Thus, our hearts are able to sing, “Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken!”