The Need for Unity

Kyle Stutzman

So here we are, nearing the end of 2020. A year of chaos, tension, a virus, and to top it all off we have an election. And what all this has caused is a rift between people that has grown wider and wider as the year has gone on. Ironically, but not so surprisingly, we’ve seen it happen in the Church. People are drawing lines between opinions on the virus itself, on mask orders, on gathering limits, on party affiliation. There are numerous reasons to separate from others, to build the walls of an “us vs. them” mentality. What a great tool of the enemy to use against us.

Now more than ever, we have to remember the call of Jesus Christ to his Church. The Church is called the “body of Christ.” That means we are one living organism, designed to accomplish the mission that we have been given, together. Paul put it a great way in the book of 1 Corinthians.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

The book of Corinthians was written for a culture much like ours. A wild city, with pagan ideas, and people coming to God from a lot of different backgrounds. You’ve got all this tension coming from the fact that some are Jew, some are Gentile, and they’re all bringing their own culture into the mix. But Paul appeals to them. We must live perfectly united. Maybe it sounds easier said than done to you, but it is the call of God. The power of the Church is in our banding together, despite differences, because there is only one Sovereign God. There is only one mission. The Kingdom of God is here now, and Jesus Christ can bring salvation to all people! All are welcome!

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

And for us, there is no Republican or Democrat. No Conservative or Liberal. We are one in Christ Jesus. So, during this election season remember this. I’m the last person to tell you how and who to vote for. But I want to encourage you all; the most important thing about us is our relationship with Christ. The most important thing about you is who Jesus is in your life.