The call to “pursue” peace (or “make every effort,” NIV) means unless there’s a compelling reason to speak or post, and you’ve sought God’s direction and sense his leading, and you can speak graciously, then do what Scripture says and keep what you believe between yourself and God. Having a strong opinion never equals God telling us to express it. Scripture confronts us for how we have treated each other before the watching world:
- “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Proverbs 18:2).
- “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19).
- “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).
Steps Toward Love and Unity
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). We don’t simply owe it to God to love each other and thereby obey Him. We owe love to one another. We are part of God’s family. We need each other.
What practical steps might we take toward love and unity in our fractured times?
1. Practice James 1:19. If we would only “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,” this alone would foster love and unity to an astonishing degree.
2. When you disagree, if possible, meet face to face and talk. Don’t shred each other publicly.
3. Ask yourself where you are pointing. Will my words or social-media post be more or less likely to draw others to Jesus?
4. Raise your expectations for love and unity in your church. Lower your expectations for them coming naturally or easily.
5. Repent of being an agitator; commit to becoming a peacemaker.
6. Talk to your church leaders. Honestly articulate problems and ask how you can help foster love and unity.
7. Pray for those who’ve hurt you. Doing so transformed my relationship with a brother. One of my wife’s closest friends is someone she chose to intercede for decades ago, despite their conflicts.
8. Ask God to help you reject pride and develop true humility. John Newton wrote, “What will it profit a man if he silences his adversary and loses that humble spirit in which the Lord delights?”
A.W. Tozer said, “Only the humble are completely sane, for they are the only ones who see clearly their own size and limitations” (Tozer on Christian Leadership). To think clearly is to think humbly. “Think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3).
Show Them Jesus
True unity is grounded on
- mutually believed primary truths about Jesus,
- refusal to elevate secondary beliefs over primary beliefs,
- demonstrated heartfelt love for Jesus and others, and
- the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.
When I reread The Mark of the Christian fifty years later, when divisiveness is the air we breathe, it spoke to me more deeply than ever. Schaeffer’s message rings true: when we call upon God, and make concerted efforts to live in humble love and unity, people will see Jesus. By His grace, some will believe in Him.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Romans 15:5-7, NIV).
This article about healing disunity originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
