What lessons from Genesis 11:4 apply to building unity within the church? Setting the Scene “Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the face of all the earth.” They had one language and one purpose—yet their unity collapsed under God’s judgment. Tracing why it failed helps us shape unity that pleases Him today. Why Their Unity Failed • Self-promotion: “let us make a name for ourselves.” • Self-protection: “lest we be scattered.” They resisted God’s earlier command to “fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). • Self-sufficiency: building upward “with its top in the heavens,” as though human effort could bridge the gap to God. Key Warnings for Today’s Fellowship • Unity built on pride becomes a monument to us, not a ministry for Christ. • Human strategies alone can rally crowds, but they invite divine opposition when they ignore God’s Word. • Fear of losing comfort can disguise itself as vision. Whenever preserving “our thing” outranks obeying His mission, scattering follows. Positive Principles for Church Unity 1. Center on God’s glory, not our brand. • Psalm 115:1—“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory.” • John 17:22-23—Jesus prays for unity “so that the world may know” the Father’s love. 2. Obey revealed commands, then watch Him knit hearts. • Acts 2:42-47 shows a community devoted to doctrine, fellowship, and worship; the Lord added the growth. 3. Depend on the Spirit, not towers of strategy. • Ephesians 4:3—“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” He creates unity; we guard it. 4. Pursue humility over acclaim. • Philippians 2:3-4 replaces “make a name” with “consider others more important.” 5. Welcome God-directed scattering. • Sometimes He sends members to plant, serve, or go to the nations. Sending is not losing; it is multiplying. Guardrails to Keep Our Unity Christ-Centered • Regularly ask, “Whose name are we elevating?” • Compare every initiative with Scripture’s clear mission—make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). • Celebrate different gifts and callings instead of forcing uniformity (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). • Maintain transparency in decisions so motives stay in the light (2 Corinthians 8:21). Practical Steps We Can Take Together • Start meetings by reading a verse that refocuses everyone on God’s glory (e.g., Psalm 133:1). • Schedule testimony nights where members share how God, not the ministry, changed them. • Rotate leadership roles when possible to resist celebrity culture. • Set aside a portion of the budget for church planting or missions—built-in scattering. • Close each gathering with united prayer for humility and obedience to His Word. When unity flows from shared surrender to the King, no tower can match its reach and no scattering can slow its advance. |
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