Cries for unity without a commitment to solidarity sidesteps the demands of love.

Unity without solidarity can never be the unity for which Jesus prayed.

Solidarity without liberating-justice can never the solidarity for which the gospel summons us.

The Incarnation of God in Jesus opens us up to see how God’s solidarity with us moves God’s sympathy toward us and makes our liberation possible. All of this—solidarity, sympathy, liberation—are actions that meet the demands of love.

The unity for which Jesus prayed cannot happen without love. This makes sense to me, because unity is not something we aspire to accomplish (despite what is taught by some), rather is something that happens when we commit to accomplishing the demands of love. 

Today much of the Christians call for unity seem more like cries of discomfort induced by a desire to hold onto power and the status quo. A posture like this represses repentance, disables reconciliation, and stifles peace because it does not see what love demands. 

Listen for it, friend. You’ll hear it when people expose into the light or call into question wrongdoing or tell the truth by naming behaviors or historical realities for what they are. Those who disagree call these actions “divisive” and they will cry out for unity. To be even more candid, you will especially hear it from white Christian siblings when it comes to racial justice conversations and actions.

As those “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28) we are summoned to solidarity with others. We pursue peace and holiness (Heb. 12:14), extend hospitality to strangers (Heb. 13:2), and “remember” those imprisoned and those mistreated as if it were happening to us (Heb. 13:3). And the Christian Church can do all of this as a Spirit-filled community, because it is what God has done for us in Christ. 

(See also Heb. 4:14-16; 13:1-3; Phil. 2:5-13; Col. 1:13-20)