devision tears us apart

I know I spelled it wrong, but I think this alternative spelling better describes what happens when we divide: our vision is lost.

I hate church splits. I hate political splits. I hate family splints. The only kind of splits I like are banana.

“A house divided against itself” has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but Jesus said it first (Mark 3:25). No matter how many times it is stated, its truth remains. Divide and you die.

One of the things I dislike the most about this time of year is the elections. It gets so old listening to candidates rip one another, with no constraints. It is such a joke that, during the primaries, people in the same party can be so absolutely hateful to one another, can assassinate one another’s character and then once the general elections come around, they team up to hate on the guy from the other party. No wonder no one believes the incessant commercials.

I think irreparable damage is done when Christian leaders debate one another in a public forum over doctrine or methodology. Seriously, who wins when a couple of opposing rival pastors squabble over predestination or worship music style? I tell you who wins – the devil. Once again, no wonder people don’t believe us when we try to share the love of God with them. We can’t even share it with each other. Our vision to win the world to Christ is lost.

Too many local churches are divided. That is why they won’t succeed.

In a recent message at Cross Community Church, missionary Jonathan Augustine gave us a prophetic word from God: “There is absolutely nothing that can stop this church from reaching this community for Christ IF YOU ARE ONE.” The Word hit me like a ton of bricks. Lack of resources can’t stop us; lack of time can’t stop us. The only thing that can stop us is lack of unity.

I agree, there are some things that we just can’t tolerate.  Not everything goes. But my observation is, way too much unnecessarily divides us.

I say to fellow Christ-followers, we are better united than we are divided. I say there is more that unites us than divides us. And I remind you, Jesus told us that we would be identified as Christians by our love for one another (John 13:35).

In the words of the vintage classic rock band, Thunderclap Newman, “We have got to get it together now.”