WHERE IS THE UNITY?

So yesterday I brought up a sticky question regarding Jesus' prayer for unity among believers in John 17. It seems there are only two possibilities:

1) God granted His prayer.

2) God didn't grant His prayer.

The second option doesn't make sense theologically. That would be God refusing His own request.

But the first option - at first glance - doesn't seem possible either. Church history is littered with splits. 

Major splits. 

Permanent splits.

The denomination I grew up in - the United Methodist Church - is currently weathering a separation. It may take a few years for the dust to settle, but in the end there will be the United Methodist Church and the Global Methodist Church. Not to mention a few more independent, non-denominational congregations who prefer to distance themselves from both sides.

I have been watching this particular split from the sidelines. I have seen enough posts on Facebook to assure you that both the UMC people and the GMC believe they are on the right side in God's eyes. And each side is frustrated with the other for stepping outside of God's will for His Church. 

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, struggled with the concept of unity among believers. He concluded that unity of opinion was never going to happen and was not what Jesus had in mind when he prayed.

Wesley believed that the unity God did grant among believers, through the power of the indwelling Spirit, was a deeper and more crucial unity: the unity of heart. 

In considering unity among Christians, it is important to pause and remember that not all who call themselves Christians are truly disciples of Christ.

Perhaps not even a majority.

(Do you agree? Or do you hold a different opinion? 😉)