The narrative that seems to be catching fire in these divisive days is the call for unity. Abraham Lincoln is referred to as the Great Unifier for his efforts to preserve the Union through the dark days of the Civil War, and he did so by refusing to vilify or punish the South once the war subsided. This unifying spirit is needed more now than ever.
Unfortunately, the ones who should be offering the medicine for the epidemic of division don’t seem to possess it themselves. Denominational splits and divisiveness have been a long-standing issue in Christianity.
How can the church offer light in a time of ever-increasing darkness when we continue to focus on a small percentage of convictions and preferences rather than focusing on the commonality we share in Christ Jesus? We are just as infected as those we are trying to cure if we vilify those who hold a different view, all the while pleading for unity.
Jesus, who lived in continual submission to the Holy Spirit, stated that, “A house divided cannot stand.” We are also called to “prefer one another in love” rather than disparage one another for differing views. This doesn’t mean we agree on all things, but rather that we agree to walk together despite disagreement, in submission to Him.
My wife and I certainly have not agreed on everything in our 24 years of marriage, but we have remained steadfast in our covenant to walk together regardless. It’s time for us to follow the example Jesus gave as the one who brings us all together in Himself.
The disease of division needs a vaccine people can believe in. We find it in John 17:21 when Jesus prayed “that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. May they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” This is a supernatural unity attained by supernatural believers yielding to a supernatural God while also living in this natural world.
Powerful things happen when believers come together in “unity and one accord,” and we’ll talk about what that means and how to do it.
Tune into this episode of Envoy: From Behind the Veil, titled Attaining Supernatural Unity in This Natural World, on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
Jason King currently serves as the Celina City Council President in Ohio. He’s held this elected office since 2010. Jason also serves as a founding pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries in Washington, D.C., and as a pastor at New Life Christian Center in Celina, Ohio. Jason is a member of the Board of Directors of Apostolic Team Ministries. ATM is a global outreach organization that passionately advances “the kingdom of God into all the earth.”
