Author: Pastor Robin Tyner
Can you think of a time in your life when people have been so angry and divided? Talk about making life complicated! People have always been somewhat divided, but it’s never been this divided. And people have rarely been this angry.
The political, racial, and ideological division feels overwhelming. Differences of opinion are a reality, but division is a choice. Division is always 100% a choice. The great enemy of the church is not a political party, partisanship, or ideology, but division which leads to disunity. Unfortunately, the future doesn’t show any signs of people becoming united. In fact, left unattended, the divisions will likely only grow deeper and wider.
What’s the solution? A divided culture needs a united church. A united church that is gospel-centered.
You cannot separate unity from the gospel. Unity is a gospel issue, and only gospel-centered churches can bring healing to the community they serve. How beautiful our world would be if we truly repent, forgive, and work together in unity.
Unity is powerful because the world notices when churches work together. We know we’re better together, but the world sees churches and their inability to do anything together. Because of our lack of unity, the world thinks churches are better at building walls rather than bridges. That’s sad, and grieves the heart of Christ.
The book of John provides us with the longest prayer by Jesus recorded in the Bible. The main concern of that prayer is unity among God’s people which signifies its importance. Jesus prayed for all believers, in all times, to become unified.
Jesus also gave the reasons why unity is important. He desired all believers be unified “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21). And then Jesus prayed, “the world will know you have loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23). When Christians are united in Christ the world sees two things clearly: Jesus was sent by the Father, and Jesus loves his church.
Since unity is important to Jesus, it should be important to us. Take a few moments right now to pray for unity in these areas: your personal life; your family; your church, and your community. There is strength and power in unity, and it glorifies God like nothing else.
Photo Credit: Sam Balye, Unsplash
