In our individualistic world, there are almost as many religious and philosophical cliques as there are family groups. It has always been so. Generally speaking, humans create the gods that they think they might be able to please by their own efforts. But when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is very different. His Spirit comes to live in us (Romans 8:9). His function is to bind us organically into the body of Christ, so that we become a properly functional part of what Christ is doing in the world. He chooses how He will link us with other believers so that He can do His work through us. If we are willing for the Lord to have all of us, then He will fit us into His purposes.

Some wrongly think that God moves us around like puppets on a string. No. We are God's fellow-workers (2 Corinthians 6:1). We are not passive or automated; we are people made in the image of God who have the responsibility to choose our behaviour and relationships. These verses instruct us to make every effort to preserve the unity of the Body of Christ which has been put together by the Holy Spirit. Certainly, we have individual characteristics but in Christ we have one common objective – that He might be glorified (2 Thessalonians 1:10). We have all come to know Christ through the same gospel, so let us proclaim it together. Our baptism is not into a church or denominational identity, but into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). In the same way our anticipation of the future is not about what we can do, but about what the Lord will give us by His grace. And that eternal destiny is corporate and not individual. So, as far as it depends on us, we must make every effort to preserve the unity into which the Lord has called us (Romans 12:18).

Superficial unity without integrity has bedevilled the church for centuries. Some have tried to achieve a cosmetic unity by agreeing a form of words, to which everybody can subscribe - even though they mean different things by the same words. Others use spiritual organisations as a power base, or dilute Biblical truth so that there is no shared doctrinal basis of fellowship. Those kinds of association cannot be invested with the Holy Spirit's power because it is not based on Biblical truth. Unity in the invisible God comes through a shared belief of His revealed Word, and a commitment to share personal behaviour accordingly. So, where two or three people commit themselves to God's truth and meet in His Name, Jesus has promised to be there (Matthew 18:20).

So, if you know others who are trusting Jesus in your workplace, do consider meeting regularly to discuss a Bible passage (Word@Work could be a good start) and pray. As you do, you present yourselves as willing volunteers to work with Him. He will then work through you, and far exceed your expectations! (And do let the Word@Work team know, so that we can pray for you!)