If God’s pattern of Church growth is multiplication through discipleship, then the enemy’s strategy would be just the opposite - division through discord.
Though the enemy has always sought to divide God’s people, I’ve discerned a more intense effort in this season. You’ve probably seen it too:
“If you don’t agree with me, unfriend me.”
“Now I see your true colors.”
“You’re toxic.”
"You’re a part of the problem.”
“You’re ignorant.”
Those are the kinds of phrases being thrown around between believers. People are becoming offended and hurt because they somehow weren’t aware that other opinions existed besides their own.
The temptation and the tendency of man is to demonize those who express contrasting beliefs. Now, of course, if someone denies the fundamentals of the faith - truths like the resurrection of Jesus, the need for repentance from sin, the deity of Christ, or the authority of the Bible - then there is a time for separation. When something directly contradicts the Word, there’s no room for compromise.
But, for the most part, if we agree on Christ then we agree.
We may not all agree on how to get there, but we all want to get to a better, more godly Kingdom reality. We may not even all agree on what the actual problems are. One believer’s proposed solution might be another believer’s idea of a problem.
But we must choose to not demonize fellow believers or even assume the worst about their motives. This is the role of grace for one another.
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15, NLT)
Unity is the mark of the true Church.
Now, I can already hear potential objections to what I’m teaching here. People may say things like, “If they truly loved me, they would see things from my perspective.”
And therein lies the problem. There would never be division if we only disagreed on the things that didn’t matter all that much to us. The contention arises when there is something that contradicts our deeply held beliefs. It is because our deepest beliefs stir up the most intense emotions in us that division works in the first place.
And it’s easy to try to spiritualize our disagreements. We blame their “bad spirits” or claim that God has somehow exposed them for who they “really are.” But maybe - just maybe - you’ve disconnected because of pride.
The Church, the body of Christ, is united by something much deeper, something much stronger than any one perspective, belief, or mindset. As important as any one issue is to you, it cannot be more important than our call to unity. It’s what distinguishes us from the world.
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 13:34-35, NLT)
The world looks on in bewilderment. They can see that though we each have deeply held beliefs, we have something deeper still that unites us. When they see that the truth of God’s Word is more important to us than any other source of thought, they will know we belong to God.
So long as we stand on the side of holiness and truth according to God’s Word, we stand together.
Jesus is God. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus rose again from the dead in bodily form. Jesus sits at the right hand of God. The call to repentance, the need for salvation, the authority of God’s Word - those truths unite us. We may disagree on the peripheral, but let’s unite for the sake of the primary.
The truly Spirit-filled can rise above the political chaos, rise above the emotionally-charged bickering, rise above the pettiness of worldly concerns. Don’t pollute your anointing or dilute God’s power on your life by preaching your opinions instead of God’s Word.
There’s a world that’s dying and going to hell - and Jesus is still the answer. The gospel is still the mission. Let’s stop the bickering and come together for the sake of souls.