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Several years ago, a visiting pastor came to the church I attended with this word: “Homothumadon”. It is a bit of a mouthful. For those of us who are not Greek scholars, it’s a biblical word used particularly in the book of Acts and according to Strong’s Dictionary means “with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.”

For example, in Acts 1:14 it is used to of the disciples as “they all joined together (homothumadon) constantly in prayer.”

The rest of Strong’s definition is worth quoting as it gives an understanding of the emphasis of this word. Strong says that homothumadon

“helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to ‘rush along’ and ‘in unison’. The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church.”

Paul uses the word only once in Romans 15:5-7. The ESV captures the musicality of the word in its translation.

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together (homothumadon) you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Just as an orchestra is comprised of many different instruments, each contributing a unique texture that enables melody, harmony, rhythm and conter-melody to communicate one piece of music, so the church is to be the same.

The song ‘One at the Cross’ was inspired by this call to live in one accord, together. It is a heart's cry that envisions and declares the church as "one people", "one family with one father".

I personally believe that the church’s greatest priority is to practically express the unity that Jesus purchased for us before a watching world. This unity is not only to be expressed in local congregations, but across the spectrum of church expression in a town or city. It seems that the Bible recognises only one church in each city not multiple individual congregations. For example, the church of Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, etc.

Is there a greater expression of Gospel power than people who have different theologies, traditions, ethnicities and social status coming together as one in the name of Jesus? This would be a powerful statement to a world that is increasingly polarised.

Too often, in any given city, the church is playing from a number of different scores at once. Each score may be beautiful in its own right but when when combined with what others are playing the result is cacophony. No wonder the world tunes us out.

Is there a greater expression of Gospel power than people who have different theologies, traditions, ethnicities and social status coming together as one in the name of Jesus?

Has the church bought into the spirit of the age, an age where we tend to associate only with those who think, look, act and believe the same things as we do? And when disagreements occur do we simply split off with like-minded people only to repeat the process further down the track, reinforcing a perpetual cycle of division that only hinders gospel witness? Are we like a teenager with headphones in, eyes closed, belting out a tune, assuming that we can carry on without any reference to the church down the road? Do we realise that we are transmitting a discordal sound to our community?

This is not the Gospel that is proclaimed in the New Testament. Rather our unity in Jesus means that there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free for all are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

My apologies in advance for the cliché but “I have a dream“. My dream is that one day in my city Catholic and Charasmatic, Presbyterian and Pentecostal, Brethren and Baptist, Megachurch and Housechurch can join together, welcoming each other as members of Jesus’ body, sharing the bread and wine around the Father’s table.

When I say join together, I don’t mean become the same. Rather, in welcoming each other we affirm each other’s distinctive strengths and in love cover over each other’s weaknesses (the time for airing our grievances before the world is over), recognising that we are different parts of the one body. Our strength of unity is in “reconciled diversity” (I first heard this phrase from Melbourne based pastor and author Peter McHugh).

This is the unique and wonderful thing about the Church. Our unity doesn’t require us to be homogenous. We are not the same. Indeed we cannot be the same any more than a body can be made up of only hands or an orchestra be comprised of only clarinets. No, we are distinct and unique from one another, each part indispensable to the whole. This kind of unity is a mystery to the world and a witness to the power of the gospel. In the age where the Australian church is struggling to merely survive let alone grow, could this be an evangelistic strategy worth trying?

Ironically, not long after the visiting pastor delivered that word, my church underwent a painful and confusing split which also reverberated through the church of our city which up until that time had been functioning at a high level of unity. The encouragement to homothumadon was not taken to heart and instead the opposite spirit prevailed; one of division, accusation and discord.

In spite of this I belive the word is still as relevant as ever for the church in my city and every town and city.

Will you heed it?

Evan Shelton is the Creative Director for Movement Australia