The paralyzed man had no trouble understanding that he needed healing. Without the ability to walk, he could not earn a living or live a normal life. As a paralytic, his only means of supporting himself was as a beggar.

The text of Luke 5:18-25 does not indicate if the paralyzed man initiated the movement toward Jesus or if one of his friends came up with the idea. But, having heard of a healer named Jesus, four of his friends carried the man to Jesus so that he could be cured of his affliction.

The curious thing about this familiar Sunday School story is that when the man comes before Jesus for healing, Jesus does not directly address his paralysis. Jesus speaks to the man about his sin. What the man thought he needed was not his ultimate need. He wanted physical healing but Jesus addressed a deeper need, that for reconciliation with God.

Perhaps this gives us a clue as to why some of our prayers are not answered in the way would like. What I think I need may not be what God knows I really need. Jesus speaks to the desire of God to give us what we need when he says:

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11, ESV)

As Jesus reveals to us the character of God, we can know that when we ask for a snake but need a fish, the fish is what we get. Like the paralytic man, God will deal with us at our ultimate point of need.

One of the disturbing trends in the American church is the practice of speaking to the “felt needs” of those who come to the church. This is done to draw in those who otherwise would not think of attending church. The disturbing part is that in some, the preaching does not go beyond addressing those felt needs.

The story of the paralytic reminds us of the danger of ministering only to the perceived needs of people. The greater concern than a healthy marriage is a right relationship with God. There is nothing inherently wrong with a sermon series on raising healthy children but we do not need well adjusted children who do not understand that they are sinners in need of regeneration.

Paul told the Corinthians that his only goal was to present Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Without the Cross, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without the preaching of the Cross, we will not meet the ultimate need of the people who come to our church.

The best news is that God is concerned about all our needs. Jesus did heal the man of his paralysis. God uses our “felt needs” to bring us to the point where he can address our deepest need.

I am reminded of something that I’ve heard Ravi Zacharias say on multiple occasions:

Jesus did not come to make bad people good,
He came to make dead people live.

I have observed that sometimes when a pastor or church leader speaks about unity what they really are talking about is conformity. There is a big difference.

As believers, we are called to be unified in Christ. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:14-16 that we who were formerly enemies have not been reconciled to each other because we’ve each been reconciled to Christ. The differences that once divided us no longer are able to do so.

This reconciliation does not wipe away our differences, nor does it mean that we immediately become easy to live with. Yet we are called to unity. This unity is in response to a common relationship with Jesus Christ and it is to be based on honesty about who we are and what we would like to become. Unity is an internal motivation.

Conformity, on the other hand is the result of pressure applied from the outside to adhere to an external standard. In short, it is pressure to appear to be something that we are not. I have seen this pressure in far too many churches.

There are several clues that will give an indication that you have conformity and not unity in a church:

• Watch how the pastor or other leaders interact with church members. If there is an authoritarian tone it is likely a church that practices conformity and not unity.
• Watch how the members interact with each other. If there are some who are accepted and others who are not, then you have conformity and not unity.
• Find out if there is spontaneous ministry happening or if the leaders control all the activities of the church. If the leaders exercise control over body life, you likely have conformity and not unity.
• Watch how well the children that grew up in that church do once they get to college age. If a high percentage of them walk away from Christianity, it is likely a church that practices conformity and not unity.

In a body that practices unity, we are allowed to be the mess that we really are and not try to appear to be a paragon of holiness. Biblical unity allows us the freedom to be honest about who we are and be loved in spite of our flaws.

The danger for those of us who grew up in the church is that we develop a high tolerance for phoniness and sometimes don’t pick up on the dynamics that pressure us to conform. Like Pavlov’s dogs, we respond to the stimulus and toe the line without even thinking about our response. As a result we hold others at a distance and don’t let anyone really get to know us. We can promote conformity without realizing it.

If you find yourself in a church that practices conformity and not Christian unity, the only advice I can offer is for you to flee from that church. Your spiritual health, and that of your family is at risk in staying.

There are churches who get this right. When you find a church that truly practices Christian unity, it may be a little uncomfortable at first. You might wonder if the people are being genuine in their interaction. It may take time to let your guard down.

But, it is worth working through the discomfort and staying in a church that understands and practices Christian unity.