Does it seem to you that people are angrier than they used to be? The unspoken rules of civility that help us all to live together in a society are either unknown or ignored. Violence is seen as an acceptable way of addressing conflicts. People seem less tolerant, more willing to lash out at one another in response to even minor offenses.
It’s all too easy to find examples:
Sports – Michael Costin, 40-year-old single father of four, beaten to death on July 5 in front of his own children at a hockey rink in Reading, Massachusetts. The man who attacked him was reportedly angry because Costin had refused to intervene in a youth hockey game that Junta thought was getting too physical.
Politics – A whole lingo: “going negative,” “attack ads,” “opposition research” (digging up dirt on your opponent). In a 1991 interview, Al Gore reportedly said that to win in politics you have "to rip the lungs out of anybody else who’s in the race."
Television has become increasingly violent. Consider shows like “WWF Smackdown”. In Dallas last July, a seven-year old boy accidentally killed his 3-year-old brother when he imitated a “clothesline” move he had scene on a TV wrestling show. He said his favorite wrestlers were Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker.
“Road Rage”. “Air Rage”. We live in a rage-saturated society. It’s as if the entire population was overdosing on anabolic steroids, adrenaline, and testosterone.
This subject of this morning’s message is “peace and unity.” It’s the third in a series on Building Community in the Church. So how does all this “rage” stuff relate to peace and unity? Here’s how: we need to understand that as we seek to live in peace with one another, we are going against the grain of our society. We are acting counter-culturally. This presents us with a danger and an opportunity.
The danger is that we will be conformed to the world around us; that we will become angry and combative ourselves. If that happens, then we have nothing to offer. The opportunity we have is to relate to one another in peace, and to demonstrate to the world the transforming power of the gospel. We have the opportunity to shine as light in the darkness.
Why now? After all, things seem pretty peaceful. Harmonious. It’s not as if someone is likely to mistake one of our Sunday morning service for an episode of the Jerry Springer show. Are there battles going on in the church that we don’t know about? Are there controversies brewing?
No, not at all. God has blessed us with an unusual degree of unity. Part of that is due to the fact that we print our mission, vision, and core values on the back of every bulletin. We’re unified around those purposes. But an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. I’d rather preach proactively to strengthen unity than try to restore it after it’s been broken. Also, these principles on living in peace and harmony can also apply to families, marriages, work situations – anywhere that you have imperfect people relating to one another.
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1. Why is unity important?
We are commanded to live in unity with one another as followers of Christ.
“Live in harmony with one another. . . . If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:16, 18
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.” – Romans 15:5
The unity of God’s people reflects the character of God.
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33
Our behavior tells the world what our “Father” is like. We are the only Bible many people will ever read. And our God is a God of peace, not disorder or confusion.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:22-23
The Greeks and Romans had a pantheon of gods, who were anything but unified. They fought, bickered, plotted against one another. But our God is a unity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all in complete agreement, with a single will and purpose. Our unity with one another should reflect the unity within the three members of the Trinity.
Our unity also reflects what Christ came to do. He came to bring reconciliation between God and man, by removing the cause of God’s wrath against us – our sin. He also came to reconcile Jews and Gentiles, to break down the barriers between races.
“His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:15-16
Even the President of the United States was unable to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat returned home Wednesday, both blaming the other for the failure to reach an agreement.
Unity is necessary to the health and growth of the church. It’s difficult enough for a church to survive and thrive if it is attacked from outside. But it is virtually impossible when there is internal division. For example: several major Christian denominations are on the verge of splitting over the issue of homosexuality. All are declining in membership. Why? One reason is surely their lack of unity on this issue.
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. – Mark 3:24-25
“The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” – Galatians 5:14-15
Unity is necessary to our health and growth because we need each other. If our unity is disrupted, we can’t be the strength and encouragement and support to one another that we need to be. People who are feuding are rarely a source of help and support to each another.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” – Colossians 3:15
How would you like it if the members of your body were fighting among themselves? There is a class of diseases in which this is actually the case, called auto-immune diseases, in which the body attacks itself (rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, multiple sclerosis).
2. What is unity?
Unity does not imply unanimity. We do not have to hold the same opinions on every issue. Unity doesn’t mean you never have disagreements. It means you handle those disagreements in a way that demonstrates love and mutual respect.
It means seeking common ground.
It means assuming the best about one another; giving one another the benefit of the doubt.
It means looking for ways to resolve conflicts, instead of intentionally provoking them.
It means humbly acknowledging the possibility that you may be in error.
It means listening.
It means all seeking the will of God together instead of every person stubbornly insisting on having things their way.
Unity means refusing to take sides, one person against another, one group against another. It means not dividing up into warring factions, “us vs. them,” Hatfields vs. McCoys.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
This happens in churches all the time. The seed of the dispute could be a doctrinal issue, a disagreement over the budget, a personnel issue, or just a personal conflict between two people. But over time it grows until it involves the whole church.
Basically, unity is a heart attitude of seeking peace and agreement wherever possible, and of showing love and respect for one another at all times, whether or not agreement is achieved.
3. How do we foster peace and unity?
How do we foster peace and unity, both between individuals, and in the church as a whole? How do we avoid getting caught up in destructive conflicts and divisive disagreements? How can we enjoy the kind of harmony that God intends for His people? Here are some principles:
Remember that peace and harmony must be worked for. Don’t get discouraged if achieving peace is difficult and takes time. They aren’t natural. They aren’t automatic. They require effort and prayer, and the grace and power of God.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. – Romans 14:19
Keep a sense of perspective. Don’t “blow up the house to kill a mouse in the basement.” A person who goes to war over minor issues is not acting on principle. They are acting out of a love of conflict. The Bible calls such people “quarrelsome” and “divisive” and tells not to get drawn into their battles.
Guard your tongue. There is no organ more potentially destructive to the peace of a church than the tongue.
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18
Unfortunately, many people have this attitude:
“If you haven’t got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me." – Alice R. Longworth
Finally, recognize that God is in control. Remember that it’s His church, and He will accomplish His purposes. God can bless an imperfect church with imperfect leaders (thank goodness).
Therefore, we don’t have to panic or behave in an ungodly way. We can honor those who disagree with us. We can act and speak calmly, lovingly, humbly, peacefully, gently, patiently, harmoniously, and respectfully; knowing that even if we don’t prevail, God will prevail. Blessing comes from being in Christ, not from being in the right.
(For an .rtf file of this and other sermons, see www.journeychurchonline.org/messages.htm)
