Scripture says the world will know us — Christians — by our love. John records Jesus saying:

““By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:35, NASB95)

This is not an isolated command or reference. John later records in Jesus’ high priestly prayer to His Father more on this very matter in John 17.

““The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22–23, NASB95)

The Apostle Paul also provides instruction on love and associates love and the concept of spiritual unity.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3, NASB95)

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11–13, NASB95)

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:14, NASB95)

The love to which Jesus refers in John 13 is love shown to brothers and sisters in Christ. Several of the cited passages discuss both love and unity, however, Jesus did not say the world will know us by our unity. If He had that might cause one to question the veracity of scripture! Love is a much better indicator of God’s message than unity. Anyone in the world that measures God’s message by Christian unity is likely to be confused. Unity is in some ways similar to sanctification. Both are processes and goals; neither will be wholly realized here on earth until our Lord’s return. In this case, as always, scripture is wholly true. Christians may demonstrate love to one another at any time without regard to meeting any preconditions. Anyone can show love to another, use the name of Christ, and witness to God’s love for the world. This can and does happen. It is almost as if the writers of scripture knew what things would hold true throughout the church age.

Consider an old testament passage which deals with unity among men from a different perspective — the story of the tower of Babel. The people in the land of Shinar following the great flood were unified in language along with everyone else on earth. Genesis 11 records the people of Shinar undertook a building plan to construct a tower to heaven. The building effort was without consideration of God’s will and without any apparent dimension of spiritual fellowship or personal relationship with the Creator. It seems man’s propensity toward mob rule and group-think stepped in. The whole society moved in a way that was outside God’s will. God was left out of their ecclesiastic practices (if any) as well as any other substantive part of their lives, at least corporately.

In Genesis 11:7 God steps in and confuses their language, breaks up the mob, and scatters them across the earth. The Holy Spirit stepping in on Pentecost in Acts 2 presents an interesting parallel of God stepping into history as He did in Genesis 11. The Holy Spirit mitigates but lets stand the confusion of languages on Pentecost. He causes those listening to hear in their native language. Language is a key concept in both of these cases, and there are marked similarities as well as differences. Yet these two lessons, one from the old testament and one from the new, are consistent regarding God and His interest in man’s priority on fellowship with Himself. Man’s fellowship with his God is to be above that of his fellowship with others. God doesn’t call His children out of society and immediately to heaven. The fallen world is where He plans for most of us to work out our salvation and to mature. However, He wants us to have our priorities in correct order here and now. He is to be first in priority, now and forever.

Society, even an ecclesiastic society, is of secondary importance. My Sunday school teacher had it right. She taught “God first, others second and me third.” The “others” in this case refers to other human beings. That includes government officials. That includes one’s pastor, priest or minister. That includes one’s peers. That includes one’s family. That even includes one’s spouse. We are to love God more than others AND self, more than one’s own body, heart, mind and soul.

Scripture provides clear instruction on responsibility, accountability, authority, submission, and discipline. These concepts are applicable whether one is in solitude or in a family, church, or societal setting. Is the concept of placing God first contrary to these additional biblical directions for Christians? Well, it may appear so, but no. The scriptures are wholly consistent. Concepts regarding love or unity do not negate any biblical instructions. With regard to the church, no individual person on earth is, nor organization of people are, the head of the Church. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and He is risen, alive, and seated at the right hand of the Father. His Spirit indwells each of His children. The Church has many leaders, but only one head. Scripture teaches that ecclesiastic unity just isn’t the top priority for the Christian. It is not the top priority in accomplishing the important task of taking the message of Christ to today’s world. Jesus does not say in John 35 that they will know Christians by their unity, but that they will know us by our love. The world is to know us by our love. That can and does happen in each and every person who proclaims God’s love and performs a loving action in His name to someone, anyone, in the world. That can and does happen regardless of church affiliation, or even the status of one’s salvation. God can, and does, use even unsaved individuals to further His purposes and glory.

It is striking how wise and wonderful is God’s word. It is wonderful in what it tells us, and often in what it doesn’t. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and instructed to seek unity of the spirit, and Christians have been under this paradigm for two thousand years. Still, throughout church history theologians of different stripes speak with their own jargon such that various sects of Christianity are foreign and effectively considered different people groups.

Language is wondrous. It most certainly facilitates, but is not man’s only means of, communication and fellowship. In extreme circumstances it is possible to be unable to speak with others and yet not feel alone or be alone. It is difficult to maintain personal relationships without language — but love can transcend and overcome language barriers. The true God, Creator of All, who is in eternal relationship as Father, Son and the Holy Spirit looked at man and said, it is not good for him to be alone. We are designed for relationship, both with God and with each other. God has gifted us with fellowship and made it possible to enjoy it with Himself and others but scripture clearly tells us God comes first!

I’ll close out this blog post with a few observations:

• Every time scripture seems like it may be inconsistent or incorrect, close examination reveals how the perception of error is most assuredly due to misunderstanding the message, not with any problem of the Word of God.
• Christ’s love for His Church (Eph 5:25) is infinite and Christ’s love for each of His disciples is also infinite. Infinity is an amazing concept. When I had one child it didn’t didn’t seem possible that I could love another child as much as I did that first one. Then I had a second child and somehow my heart expanded and love was there. My love isn’t perfect and I am quite finite — but God’s love is perfect — and He is infinite.
• Interesting thing about love, it can’t be demanded, mandated, coerced, taught or required. No laws or decrees can order it. It must be freely given. If love were able to be taught, would the Father’s will have been for His Son to endure the cross?