Disunity

[Jesus said,] “I have given [the believers] the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!”

John 17:22-24

GRACE AND JENNA had a problem. Grace felt Jenna had tricked her about a new program she wanted to bring to the church. Jenna believed she’d just given Grace her best advice, and unfortunately it all went wrong. Each began enlisting the ears and thoughts of others in their quest to prove that the other was the bigger idiot. Soon, people took sides, and factions developed in the church. The church boiled over with accusations, recriminations, finger pointing, and even hatred.

Have you ever been in a church situation like this? Probably any of us who have been members of a church for even a few years have been witnesses to turmoil, disunity, and arguments. Christians can get loud and unpleasant when something they hold to might be removed, changed, or even simply disparaged.

Against such eventualities, Jesus specifically prayed that his church would be unified. It was his primary concern when it came to his people. Why? Because it’s through unity and a unified front that Christians most clearly show the world that they worship and love and follow Jesus.

If Jesus is as concerned about unity as the passage indicates, shouldn’t we also be? Is there an element of disunity in your church right now that you can help to change, fix, and bring to reconciliation? Pray that God will be glorified through your humble efforts.