RE: “We cannot manufacture unity…. Unity is given in the Eucharist.”

I'm thinking: Well, unity in a marriage is certainly a gift. Yet a husband and wife can each influence the degree of unity in their marriage. Is it not the same way with unity in the community of believers?

“Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above” (James 1:17 ESV). Nevertheless God invites and encourages His richly gifted people to "make every effort" to bring about good things (2 Peter 1:3-8), bearing fruit to His own glory (John 15:8) and their own joy (John 13:17, 15:11). That’s not about "manufacturing" anything by way of our own energy and devices; that’s about being His instruments according to what He has called us to do.

God’s Word encourages us to consider thoughtfully our attitudes and the quality of our fellowship and to act in such a way that we continue “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27), “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3-4).

Gathering for a few moments at the Lord's Table does indicate a common faith, certainly. But isn’t the kind of unity that God is concerned about more clearly revealed in how we engage one another away from the Lord's Table?

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). In every culture, youth have idealism and energy. A pivotal period in my youth was when my church offered opportunities for meaningful service by which I discovered my gifts and the joy of utilizing them for good, for Jesus’ sake. So perhaps likewise, among youth today, cultivating a sense of unity with the rest of the church might be helped by enlisting them zealously in fulfilling God's own purposes for his people (Titus 2:14!).

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to [them], let [the youth] use them[!]” (Romans 12:6).