Understanding the Nature of “Perfectly One”
Church unity is one of those topics that’s been an ongoing concern for many of the Christian faithful for centuries. From my experience as a “seeker,” I would say rightly so. When one Christian cannot see Christ and salvation in another Christian though they may pronounce the same creed, it offers more questions about the “perfectly one” than answers to someone like me. And it’s enough to keep someone away from church altogether.
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays for a profound unity among his followers, both present and future. He desires that they may be “perfectly one,” mirroring the unity he shares with God the Father. The way Jesus phrases his petition makes it much more than a simple hope for Christians to work together on common ground. His hope is for an ontological shift in his followers. An understanding of this shift requires thoughtful consideration — because in light of Jesus’ prayer for unity, our disunity is a sin.
A Teenage Encounter with Unity
The first time I actually tried to read the Bible, as opposed to merely thumbing through it here and there, was as a sophomore in high school. Having been raised agnostic, the holy scriptures of Christianity meant little to me other than the popular biblical references held by American culture. I hate to admit it, but I had little understanding of what the Bible was about. I remember very little of my initial reading experience; however, one passage struck me with such force that if I remembered anything else from the biblical texts at that time it wouldn’t have mattered…
The Hypocrisy of Division
I can picture that moment of reading these verses even now.
“So how’s that working out?” I recall asking, sarcastically.
I had seen no evidence of the unity for which Jesus had prayed.
It reinforced the festering suspicions I had about hypocritical Christians and their “make believe church.” Clearly they were not united in any significant way that I could tell. In fact, it seemed to me the various Churches reveled in their theological and liturgical differences.
Unpacking Jesus’ Prayer
Since my unexpected conversion to Christianity a mere 13 years ago, I’ve been compelled to revisit this passage to determine what it actually means for me and for the body of Christ to be united in perfect oneness because in staking out our favorite theological boundaries, we establish a fence of such certitude around us that we make the worship of God and love of neighbor just another turf war in our lives. Do we actually want to face the consummation of all things in such a state?
There seems to me, three points for our consideration with this prayer…
First, it’s clear Jesus isn’t speaking only of his apostles, but of all who believe from encountering the gospel. That means us. Jesus is praying for us.
Second, Jesus states he has given us the glory of God so that we may be one, even as he and the Father are one: a spiritual unity.
Third, Jesus states, “…that the world may know that thou hast sent me”: a physical unity.
The Missing Manifestation of Unity
It’s simple enough to think that the glory given to believers that Jesus speaks of is by virtue of God becoming known through the life and death of Jesus — the inauguration of the kingdom of God on earth, Jesus’ glorification through the cross and the coming arrival of the Holy Spirit.
The core of this unity lies in believers being united as one with the Father and the Son, just as the Father and Son are one. This points to a deep, intimate, and abiding relationship with God, where believers are connected to the divine life and love.
But how do we imagine how the unity of believers should look as we stand witness to the love of God for the world?
Jesus’ prayer emphasizes that this unity will serve as a powerful witness, demonstrating the reality of God’s love and the truth of Jesus’ mission. This suggests that the Church’s unity should be visible and tangible, impacting how believers interact with each other and with all the world.
Despite the number of ecumenical councils and interdenominational charity organizations that may be working together in a united way, to the average outsider, little in the way of unity can be seen. Certainly, there is not enough to put on a full display of the love of God. One cannot discount that this physical, observable unity is also what Jesus is asking for in his prayer.
Building Bridges: Steps Towards Unity
Unity must extend to the relationships between believers themselves. It calls for a love and harmony that transcends differences in background, personality, and, to a point, theological perspectives. Given the way things are, we should see this unity is not to be in uniformity but rather in a harmonious diversity where each member contributes to the whole.
It’s from here that we have to come to terms with what the Church is supposed to look like, and this is nothing new…
- Emphasis on Relationships: The Church has to prioritize fostering genuine relationships among its members. Creating spaces for connection and vulnerability, and mutual support. This involves going beyond superficial interactions and actively seeking to understand one another.
- Embracing Diversity: The Church should celebrate the diversity of its members, recognizing that each person brings unique gifts and perspectives. This requires a willingness to listen to and learn from one another out of charity, even when there are disagreements.
- Focus on Mission: The Church should be united in its mission to share the love of God with the world. This involves working together to serve others, promote justice, and proclaim the Gospel.
- Humility and Forgiveness: Achieving unity requires humility and a willingness to forgive. Believers must be willing to let go of pride and resentment, choosing to love and serve one another as fellow Christians, as difficult as that might sound.
A Distant Dream?
Jesus’ prayer for believers to be “perfectly one” paints a picture of a Church that is deeply connected to God and characterized by love, harmony, and a shared mission. While this ideal appears challenging to achieve, it is a worthy goal that should guide the Church’s efforts. By prioritizing relationships, embracing diversity, focusing on mission, and practicing humility and forgiveness, the Church can move closer to the unity that Jesus envisioned.
I wouldn’t dare to presume to speak for Jesus, and, of course, I could be getting it all wrong. Help me to see what I am missing, because it seems to me that despite the unity that may exist here and there within the Church, we are far from looking like the Church described above and being the perfectly one that Jesus prayed for us to become.
But can such unity as Jesus appears to desire be achieved?
I have my doubts, painfully so, that I will ever see it happen in my lifetime. Even more painfully, I am fully aware that I am part of the problem as I propose that as believers we all play a role in having Jesus’ prayer answered in unity of the Holy Spirit.
Still, I have hope because what Jesus says, is. And Jesus left it, through his prayer, in the hands of God the Father.
Hope for the “Already and Not Yet”
One day, every Christian will understand what the nature of being perfectly one is. I’m hoping it is not purely eschatological, in the old sense — something for the “end times.” I’m hoping that we will realize the need for unfettered unity and see the way to make that unity happen, which is to say, to live kingdom now, that is “already and not yet,” despite any apparent differences we may still observe amongst ourselves. At that point, we could fully realize that whether Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant, we are one, as Jesus had prayed for us to be.
Can we not see the joy in that?
End, Part 1. Part 2 discusses historical and current areas of disunity.