Our Immune System and Unity

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Psalm 133:1

God has created the human body to be comprised of many different parts that have unique functions that benefit the whole body.  Unity should not be confused with uniformity, for every person has their own personality and perspective.  Even identical twins that are difficult to tell apart are their own individual person, a unique soul endowed with gifts and abilities by our Creator.

In Psalm 133, David exclaimed how good and pleasant it was for brethren to dwell together in unity.  The Hebrews received an inheritance of land by lot, and they were separated into various tribes.  The tribe of Levi was distinct because God was their inheritance, and the ministry of the tabernacle and service to God was their privilege and responsibility.  The chief priests were of the line of Aaron, another distinction.  Yet all God's people were brethren, united by blood of the line of Abraham and spiritual brethren by faith in the God of Israel.

In the New Testament, several times the church of Jesus Christ is likened to a Body made up of many members with Jesus as our head.  Local Christian churches are part of the global church, united in Christ and His love despite different practices, form and heritage.  Jesus who unites us is greater than minor differences in theology that tend to separate us.  It is good and pleasant for brothers and sisters in the church to dwell together in unity for the glory of God and the edification of each member.  Because we are different people at various stages of spiritual rehabilitation and renewal, people who naturally think and express themselves differently and are often ignorant of other's struggles and pains, conflicts will arise.  Mix in misunderstandings, offence, bitterness, unforgiveness and other sinful works of the flesh, division of members seems inevitable.

Our bodies contain an incredible amount of complex systems that work together to support the health of the whole body.  One of these is our immune system that has various types of white blood cells that remembers all the microbes, fungus and bacteria that have been harmful to the body and identify them as they circulate.  Antibodies are able to determine the foreign invaders and mark antigens for attack.  T cells target these harmful cells and destroy them.  Massive problems arise when our immune system does not recognise harmful cells and feeds them, allowing them to multiply which results in colds, flu and even cancer.  God designed all the members of the church who are born again by the Holy Spirit to fulfil a similar function, having provided a blueprint of righteousness in His word so we can recognise sin and repent.

If a healthy body does not directly deal with invading microbes, this will result in sickness and possibly death.  Similarly, members of the body of Christ are to mobilise to directly deal with our sin by confession and repentance--while gently restoring sinners overtaken in a trespass--knowing we also can be tempted.  Our individual connection to the head (Jesus Christ) by abiding in Him means we can be a healthy, fruitful and productive member of the body even when a church is a mess.  We cannot walk in unity if we are proud, and we ought to follow Christ's example to humble ourselves as Philippians 2:1-3 says:  "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

Running a fever is a symptom our bodies are fighting off an infection, and fevers are not fun.  It is not pleasant or enjoyable to confess our sin, admit we have done wrong or need to ask for forgiveness.  In the end, however, dealing with sin directly provides incredible benefits we and the whole body of Christ can enjoy.  Cells in our immune system remember foreign microbes they have determined to be harmful and quickly mobilise to destroy them should they ever seek to invade again.  When Christ delivers and cleanses us from a sin that once held us in bondage, our senses are heightened to quickly recognise it, make wise choices to avoid it and to do what is pleasing to God instead.  By confession and repentance of sin, these are profitable spiritual exercises that contribute to the health of the church by walking in love and unity with Jesus Christ and one another.