Churches rarely collapse overnight from bad doctrine. More often, they weaken slowly from the inside—from disunity. Few things hinder gospel impact more than a fractured congregation.
One of the greatest obstacles to a church influencing its community is a lack of unity—a lack of Christian love and shared passion focused in the same direction. Jesus said,
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Not by our facilities. Not by our music. Not by our teaching or programs.
By our love.
Paul’s Call for Unity
The apostle Paul wrote four letters from prison—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. In each, he challenged believers to be unified and reminded them that their new standing with God must shape how they relate to others in His family.
While enduring persecution and uncertainty, Paul’s plea was clear: the church must live as one. Unity was not a side issue. It was essential for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Sadly, many churches today are plagued with disunity that confuses a watching world and wounds those inside. Sometimes it shows up as open conflict over preferences—music styles, dress, programming, or facilities. Other times, it’s more subtle—competing ministry philosophies pulling in opposite directions.
Whether loud or quiet, disunity exposes a deeper spiritual sickness beneath the surface.
Paul urged the church at Ephesus to
“Diligently keep the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3).
Notice that he didn’t say create unity—they already had it through their shared faith:
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4–6).
Unity reflects the nature of God Himself—one God in three Persons—and the salvation He’s given us. To live divided is to drift from both the foundation of our faith and the character of our God. That drift often begins with misplaced priorities and mistaken enemies.
A Misplaced Priority
While unity isn’t the ultimate goal of the church, it reflects our devotion to the One who is ultimate. When unity breaks down, it usually means personal preferences have taken priority over the Lord and His mission.
Paul told the Philippians,
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ… then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1–2).
When unity fades, it’s often because our own kingdoms have taken precedence over His.
