Stop the Division

Video - A Vibrant Unity

Divisions

When we take a look around the world today we see so much division and over the last several years it seems to be getting worse. Take for example, the global pandemic. I feel that this was one of the most polarizing events of my lifetime. We see division based upon race, social economic status, and the list goes on. There seems to be more anger, more disagreement, more discord, and more division.

I would venture to guess that Satan is grinning from ear to ear because of the division, after all one of his greatest strategies is to divide the body of Christ. He knows that if we work together as the body of Christ we become unstoppable because of presence of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, if we are divided, we become weak and ineffective.

In the early 20th century, workers were divided by their skills; the skilled craftsmen thought themselves superior to laborers. However, during World Wars, they found all needed to unite for the same purpose—freedom and survival. The bonds formed amid crisis remind us that in Christ, our divisions can be overcome and we must work collectively for a greater cause, resonating with Paul’s call for unity in the body of Christ.

Alone I may not have much power to change anything, but I do have some influence on my family, my church family, my friends. I’m going to ask of you the same plea that Paul asked of the church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 1

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

What are Divisions

Divisions - comes from the Greek word schisma - a split, a division, a schism, a ripping or tearing apart.

Jesus’ Prayer for Unity John 17:20-23 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 17

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

The Choice We Have

We can choose to be divided and weak or we could stand united and strong. Resisting the schemes, attacks, and strategies of Satan. This will help us bring about God’s will on earth as it it in heaven.

Jesus prayed that all who believe in Him would be ONE. What if it is God’s plan and will for us is to be the generation that answers his prayer?

How do we become one? What will unify the church?

One Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 6

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The church down the street is not enemy! Different styles of worship, different bible translations are not the enemy! The person that has a different skin color, the person with a different background, the person that listens to different music, the person that dresses differently, or perhaps express themselves differently than we do; these people are not our enemy!

The Devil, the Prince of Darkness, Father of Lies, the Great Deceiver....he is the enemy!

John 10:10 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

When our enemy steals our unity, it kills churches and destroys our witness as a follower of Christ.

Satan knows that when we are united in following Christ we are unstoppable, but if we are divided we lose our effectiveness and are weak.

Picture a family gathered around a table. Each member has a different opinion on how to lead this family into the future. They argue, growing distant. But when they face a challenge, they come together, realizing that love binds them deeper than their disagreements. Similarly, in our society, divisions fade when we focus on love and what truly brings us together, reflective of the gospel message of reconciliation.

As followers of Christ, we need to recognize what Satan is trying to do and unite against Satan as the common enemy and stand united.

In a small town, two schools were separated by a river, leading to rivalry and division. One day, a heavy storm caused a flood, and students from both schools worked together to help their community. Through teamwork and shared purpose, the animosities dissolved, revealing that, despite their differences, they all desired the same outcome: a safe community. This reflects our call as Christians to prioritize love over division, uniting for good.

What will unify the church?

One Mission

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 28

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is the one mission of the church - help people know the life-giving love and grace of Jesus Christ.

I would like to share something I read recently about evangelism in the church. This is from 5 Disruptive Church Trends that will Rule 2025 by Carey Nieuwhof. Carey is a church leader in Ontario. He wrote this about evangelism in the church:

EVANGELISM IS ON LIFE SUPPORT IN MOST CHURCHES

Over the last five years, the top thing I hear church leaders talk about is discipleship.

It’s like COVID created a collective panic attack among pastors as droves of people left the church, never to come

back, while an equal number dove into conspiracy theories, partisanship, and angry critiques of church leadership.

Rising from the ashes of COVID was a call for deeper discipleship because (clearly) the way we were doing

church was producing fickle, shallow disciples.

There’s so much truth in that.

But ask 20 pastors what discipleship means, and you’ll get 20 different answers, some of which are fuzzy and

unclear.

Drill deeper, and you discover that evangelism is on life support in many churches. Three data points reveal

the extent of the crisis around evangelism.

The number of pastors who say their church is very effective at outreach to non-churchgoers dropped from

13% in 2015 to 1% in 2023 (Data was provided by Barna Group).

Here is the unfortunate thing, what is the church known for today? It’s known for the traditions, the buildings, the worship style, the music and, I think most commonly, what the church is against!

The church should be known for love, for grace, for generosity, for justice, for compassion.

Carey Nieuwhof also shared this:

When evangelism is on life support, what’s at stake is the very future of the church.

When the church becomes a club for already-convinced insiders, the church has lost its mission.

This isn’t ‘church growth for the sake of church growth.’ If that’s all it is, it will fail. Churches that want to

grow to prop up the institution, pad their numbers, or simply want a ‘story to tell’ miss the point.

If God’s love truly compels us to reach out to the world, if we genuinely care about our neighbors who are not

like us, and if we truly decide to love our enemies, the world might come running. But right now, the church

is spectacularly easy to ignore or dismiss.

Jesus said these words

John 13:34-35 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 13

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is what the church and followers of Christ should be known by - their love.

The early Christians were known for the grace they showed to others, their generosity, their compassion. They lived grace filled lives by loving.

One day, a man noticed an elderly neighbor struggling to carry groceries. Despite being rushed and late for an appointment, he chose to stop and help her. Instead of feeling inconvenienced, he found joy in this simple act of kindness. This illustrates Christian love that prioritizes others' needs over our own, reminding us that love often shines brightest in everyday moments when we choose to be present.

In 1944, Corrie ten Boom and her family risked their lives to hide Jews from the Nazis during World War II. Their act of courage was fueled by their deep faith and love for humanity. When Corrie survived the concentration camp and later forgave her captors, she exemplified a profound Christian love that beckons us to forgive those who hurt us, revealing love's transformative power even in the darkest times.

Romans 15:5-7 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 15

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

We are challenged to accept one another as Christ accepted us. Where does this start? It starts with me and you. We must choose to be united against one enemy, Satan, and living our lives on one mission, sharing the life-giving love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.

I think one of the biggest challenges people who don’t know Christ face in today’s world is they are tired of hearing about Him - they want to see Him. This is a challenge to us as followers of Christ. It means maybe it’s time to stop just talking about Jesus and start loving people like He did! Maybe it’s time to set aside our differences and unite.

We have a common enemy - Satan. We have one united mission - to share the life-giving love and grace of Jesus Christ with others. Let’s unleash the love of Jesus Christ on a world that so desperately needs a Savior.

Whether or not we choose to believe it, we are in a war. It’s not a war involving left versus right; it’s a war involving the Kingdom of God versus Kingdom of Darkness! Let’s unite around Christ.

The love of Christ overcomes hatred, prejudice and racism! The power of Christ breaks the chains of addictions! The grace of Christ helps us forgive and heal broken relationships.

During the Civil Rights Movement, a white pastor joined hands with black leaders, risking his own safety to march for equality and justice. His love for God and neighbor propelled him to stand against injustice, exemplifying the love of Christ in a time of division. His story reminds us that Christian love often requires us to step outside of our comfort zones and take a stand for what is right.

Luke 10:30-37 NIV

The New International Version Chapter 10

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 beautifully highlights Christian love. It illustrates how a Samaritan, traditionally an outcast, stopped to assist a wounded traveler when others passed by. His actions exemplified love that crosses boundaries and transcends societal norms, prompting us to care for those in need, regardless of their background. This biblical story challenges us to embody that same love today.

We are part of the body for which Christ died - the church. So let’s not just go to church, let’s be the church. The local church is the hope of the world and we can do infinitely more together than we can apart!

Prayer

Father, we thank you that no matter how divided the world may seem, we can find unity in You. Guide us in finding unity and common ground with other Christians as a result of our shared mission, and help us to depend on Your Son for all our needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.