“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” was popularized by Alexander Dumas in 1844 as a call to arms for The Three Musketeers. “All for one and one for all!” Years later, Switzerland began using this motto as its unofficial national slogan. “All for one and one for all” communicates the Swiss foreign policy of neutrality. The country refuses to be involved in armed or political conflicts between other states and, as a result, Switzerland often serves as an advocate for peace. “All for one and one for all” is a clarion call for unity.
The church could learn a lesson from Switzerland.
Though Jesus prayed that we would be one (John 17), Christians struggle to maintain unity. Mark 9:38-41 is a simple but serious call to be one.
In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus warned His followers not to think themselves too great. Perhaps concerned that they may have overstepped their authority, John asked, “Teacher, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us” (Mark 9:38). They found a fellow performing bona fide exorcisms—something the disciples had difficulty doing 20 verses earlier. He wasn’t some charlatan running a side hustle. He was casting out demons “in Jesus’s name.” Even so, the disciples sent him a cease-and-desist letter because “he was not one of us.”
In effect, they were saying, “Because he is not one of us, we cannot be one with him.”
Too often, we think Christian unity is based on what people have in common with us. Does so-and-so go to my church, hold my values, vote with my political party, have my convictions, align with my theology, share my history, etc.? We use “us” to draw lines between insiders and outsiders.
The tendency isn’t a new one. When Paul penned his first letter to the Corinthian Christians, he confronted factions in the early church,
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfect-ly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Christians were forming coalitions based on what some had in common with each other. But Christian unity is never based on what others have in common with us, but what all of us have in common with Christ.
ALL FOR ONE
Honda is a global company that manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, lawn equipment, generators, and more. They have a wide diversity of products, but all of them are stamped with the same brand, under the same name. The name ensures a fundamental continuity among a variety of goods.
To the disciples’ concern about the exorcist, Jesus replied, “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39-40). He classifies people into one of two categories: Those who are for Him and those who are against Him. Whoever is not against Jesus is for Him. And those who are branded with His name should be in our company.
What a simple standard of unity.
Imagine the beautiful diversity we would see in churches if we simply asked, “Do you love Jesus?” Yes, we don’t believe all the same things or vote for the same candidate or prefer the same style of worship. We don’t agree on the doctrine of the spiritual gift of tongues or we don’t share the same convictions about alcohol. Do you love Jesus? It doesn’t matter that your brother is gay, you’re recently divorced, you just got out of jail, you have a lot of doubts, or you’ve been out of church for the last 20 years. Do you love Jesus?
Those who are for Jesus have more in common than their differences. We have come to God under the same faith and have received the same Spirit. We have surrendered to the same Lord and worship the same God and Father. We are united with the same baptism into the same body and look forward with the same hope (Ephesians 4:5-6). A.W. Tozer rightly observed that 100 pianos all tuned with the same tuning fork are in tune with one another. Those in tune to Christ are in tune with one another.
KEEPING THE PEACE
As those who bear the brand name of Jesus, we “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). We cannot create unity, but we can keep it. Consider the following practical applications:
View Differences Positively. God created each person uniquely. A better picture of the power of the Gospel and the presence of the Spirit is a group of people who don’t think, look, act, or vote alike, all living in community. See one another’s differences as strengths, complementing your weaknesses and bringing fresh variety to life!
Pick Battles Wisely. Don’t elevate to primary importance what is really an incidental issue. There is room for theological and philosophical diversity in the Body of Christ. We don’t give up anything by refusing to argue about things that don’t make any difference.
Resolve Conflict Immediately. Discord tears an unsightly hole in the beautiful tapestry of the church. Christians don’t have permission to just walk away from conflict. Pursue reconciliation for the sake of Jesus’ name.
Pursue Unity Intentionally. We all tend to drift toward people just like us. Welcome newcomers. Listen to other points of view without defense. Be a voice for racial reconciliation. Quash gossip. Make every effort to keep the peace.
All for one and one for all!
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See also the “All for One, One for All” sermon from the “King Jesus” sermon series about the Gospel of Mark.