Unity is actually a big deal

A house divided against itself can not stand...it's pretty simple, but why is it so hard?

This is not a rant; I hope it does not come off as one.

I’ve been away from social media for a while for various reasons, but I got back on Twitter this week to check some news and instantly remembered why I left—Christians fighting each other.

Twitter is already a messy space, but when I see believers attacking one another because of the differences in our theology I can’t help but hurt in heart. It’s always aggressive and vile and even if some things are communicated with the right intentions, the channel is usually wrong.

It truly breaks my heart because I know that isn’t Abba’s design for us—which parent enjoys watching their kids fight? Only twisted and sick people want that and we know He isn’t like that.

Jesus reveals to us how the world will know we are His disciples;

“By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:35

He doesn’t say it will be by us performing the same miracles He performed or by preaching the same things He preached. He said the world will know we are truly His followers by how we treat ourselves. I believe loving each other is a powerful evangelical tool we have failed to utilize.

Unity is also a sign of our salvation. A sign that we have new life—the life that Jesus gives—eternal life.

“We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1 John 3;14

Unity doesn’t mean that we have no differences, it simply means we celebrate the things that we share in common more than our differences. It doesn't mean we don’t correct one another, but we spend more time praying for ourselves than arguing on Twitter.

Maybe when the church is truly united we will see more people rushing in than ever before. Maybe?

More than certain of it! The goal is to see more people running into fellowship with Christ because of the beautiful scents of Christ they pick up from us:

“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And I’m convinced that when bickering and fighting rule the day, Christ is not glorified.