The Fragility and Fight for Unity

Earlier this year, I penned a letter to the church emphasising the crucial theme of unity and how God desires us to stick together. I am convinced that the devil constantly seeks ways to sow division in our homes, marriages, churches, and workplaces by planting vices like envy and hatred. Even Jesus prayed for the unity of the church.

Regardless of how united our homes or churches may seem, I believe we should consistently pray for the spirit of unity to prevail and for the spirit of division to be exposed. Often, it’s a seemingly minor disagreement that can shatter years of hard work.

One overlooked cause of division in our culture is the shift in expectations and rules when we begin to live in proximity to one another.

In a non-crowded setting, the default is independence. The expectation is that you can drive as fast as you like, do whatever you like with your land, say anything that’s on your mind.

In a city, proximity raises the stakes for how our behaviour influences others. Interdependence becomes a benefit. So don’t tailgate, turn down the stereo in your flat, and realise that your words and behaviour impact the folks around you.

On good days, unity may go unnoticed; on tough days, it may seem futile. Throughout, unity remains elusive. The great consistency about unity is its fragility.

Unity is fragile because our individual ideals often clash with our desire and efforts to be “united” with others. How do we preserve this fragile unity? How do we stay vigilant against factors that seek to divide us? The answer lies in maintaining three things: faith, hope, and love. These virtues, found in the Holy Bible, relate directly to our relationship with our Creator and are also gifts in our interactions with one another.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13, emphasises that even if we could speak all languages, without love, we are nothing.

A significant threat to unity is dwelling on a single story. Single stories create stereotypes, not because they are untrue, but because they are incomplete. They elevate one narrative, leading to a lack of understanding of the bigger picture. A one-sided story informs opinions, giving rise to divisive ideas.

We cannot allow this to happen. We must work, fight even, to protect unity, consciously resisting thoughts and ideals that seek to divide us.

While we won’t always agree, our ideals may differ, yet we can remain united on common ground: Faith, Family, and Fellowship. We are not defined by a place but by being a people, a family where we can have faith in one another, hope in one another, and love one another. We do life together, and wherever family gathers becomes home.

God is raising an army. However, He doesn’t just want a competent army; I believe He desires a united one. An army characterised by genuine love for each other and a commitment to serving God’s purpose here on earth.