THE EFFECTS OF DENOMINATIONALISM ON CHURCH UNITY: AN EXEGETICAL STUDY OF JOHN 17:21-23

Abstract

Unity is an important element in life and is an important feature of the Africa society. It is unity which defines the African communal life. An Akan proverb says that, a broom, on removing one easily breaks, but as a unit or whole is very difficult to break”. Unity entails cooperation, trust, interdependence, loyalty and commitment among people with common intentions. Africans believe that, a man cannot live or succeed without the help from other people, hence; there is a saying that “the right hand washes the left and the left washes the right”. This is underscored by Mbiti when he says that in Africa, a person does not exist all by himself; he exists because of the existence of other people; … “I am because we are, and since we are therefore I am.”1 In biblical times there have been instances that showed that unity was not just a mentioned theme, but was played out in the lives of people