I have been in a bible study covering the book of James and our recent lesson really hit home with me.  I want to dive into a topic that’s not always easy to address but is so important: unity among Christians, which includes unity among Christian Churches. Have you ever felt like the body of Christ could be a little more, well, unified? It’s a sentiment we’ve probably all experienced at one point or another. And you know what? It’s completely understandable. But let’s unpack this a bit. 

You see, in the book of James, he addresses this very issue head-on. He’s talking to Christians who are squabbling and bickering among themselves, and he basically says, “Hey guys, this isn’t how it’s supposed to be!” He encourages them to get along, to be of one mind and one spirit, and to work together in spreading the message of Christ to the world. 

But why is it that we sometimes struggle with unity? Well, if we’re honest, it often comes down to pride, selfishness, and differences in opinion or interpretation. We get caught up in our own agendas, preferences, and ways of doing things, and we forget that we’re all on the same team. 

But here’s the thing: when Christians come together in unity, amazing things can happen. Just look at the early church in Acts. They were a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and cultures, yet they were united in their love for Christ and their mission to share the gospel. And as a result, they turned the world upside down! 

So how can we foster greater unity among Christians today? Well, first and foremost, we need to focus on what unites us rather than what divides us. We all serve the same Lord, follow the same Savior, and are empowered by the same Spirit. That’s pretty unifying, don’t you think? 

Secondly, we need to practice humility, patience, and grace towards one another. We’re not always going to see eye to eye on every issue, and that’s okay. What matters is how we treat one another in the midst of our differences. 

And finally, let’s remember the power of prayer. When we pray for unity among believers, God listens and responds. So let’s commit to praying for one another, lifting each other up, and seeking reconciliation and harmony in our relationships with other Christians.  

In Ephesians 4:3 Paul encourages the Ephesian believers to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” This verse emphasizes the importance of actively pursuing unity among believers and maintaining peace within the body of Christ. 

Paul pleads with the Corinthian church to “agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” in 1 Corinthians 1:10. Here, Paul emphasizes the need for Christians to be of one mind, setting aside divisions and differences for the sake of unity. 

As for the consequences of disunity, we need look no further than 1 Corinthians 3:3, where Paul admonishes the Corinthian church for their divisions and quarrels, saying, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” Disunity within the church hinders its effectiveness and can even reflect poorly on the witness of believers to the world. 

Within the church itself, when members fail to get along, it can lead to a breakdown of community, hindered spiritual growth, and even damage to the reputation of the church as a whole and the reputation of Jesus. Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of unity among His followers in John 13:35, saying, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Our unity as believers is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of the gospel. 

What does the world think when churches split, members leave and bad mouth their previous church, pastor and\or members?  What does the lost think when a pastor or leader in the church has an affair or a Christian in the church is caught with their hand in the church till? What about a leader, pastor or church member who abuses a child, teenager or another adult in the church? But even more confusing to the lost, how is the lost to understand how one church can bad mouth another church when the things they disagree on are no more than tradition and do not determine a person’s salvation.

The world needs Jesus now more than ever!  It is time for the churches throughout the world to stop and read the book of James.  The urgency of spreading the Gospel should be on the hearts of every Christian.  Christians are not bold anymore.  Christians are not in the world, they are becoming of it and looking just like it.  As a matter of fact, churches are bringing in worldly ideas and wokeness into the church and putting those things contrary to God and His word on full display in the church, giving the perception that it all ok.

So, as we strive for unity among believers, let’s remember the words of Scripture and the example set by Christ Himself. Let’s make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit, setting aside our differences and striving to love one another as Christ has loved us. In doing so, we not only honor God but also bear witness to the world of the transformative power of the gospel in our lives. Let’s look at our neighbors, our coworkers, our family, the people in line next to us, the waitress and the doctor with the eyes and heart of Jesus and share the good news of Jesus with them with BOLDNESS.  Let that be our focus in life, not focusing on self or selfishness that prevents us from sharing Christ, hurts the reputation of the church, other Christians or Christ.
 
In closing, let’s heed the words of James and strive for unity among Christians. Together, we can accomplish far more than we ever could alone. So let’s set aside our differences, come together in love, and boldly proclaim the message of Christ to the world.