Throughout the New Testament, especially in Paul’s epistles to the various churches, a recurring theme is a plea for unity–and that was when the brand-new Church had only several thousand members, world-wide. And it was already splitting into schools and factions: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?…” (1 Corinthians 1: 12-13).
This Sunday at Church: Pray for the Church to be united Biblically
Our friend and colleague “SlimJim” reminds us NOT to pray for “unity at any cost” (and certainly not to let it motivate our actions), but rather to pray for “unity as it is motivated by Christian love.”
Yes, there are those with whom we should not seek unity. But let’s not forget “The fight’s out there, people”–not in here, within the Church.
The challenge is to remain in the teachings of Christ; neither excusing ourselves from living up to biblical standards, nor going beyond what it written.
Thanks