Promoting Unity
by Winifred Clark (deceased)
We
hear of and see a number of things being promoted today. Some are good and some not so good. Some are scriptural and others are not. One, however, is really impressed as he reads
the Galatian letter to see that Paul surely promoted unity among his brethren.
I
don't guess anybody would think he would promote unity on anything less than a
Bible basis. But Paul wanted these
brethren to know what real unity was. Take a look at this "There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ.Jesus"(Galatians.
For
one thing, Paul would help them see the price of division. Listen as he says, "But if ye bite and
devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another"
(Galatians
One
sees this sort of thing in some divorces. Both parties go into court with the intent to
destroy the character and good name of the other. When they emerge from the conflicts both are
decimated. The children are left be
wildered and confused and are caught between their hearts and heads. Respect for and confidence in the parents is
shaken and shattered. That is the price
one pays for division.
But
what could prevent such division? Well,
in the first place, one could never allow himself or herself to act like an
animal. Such conduct is manifest in the
works of the flesh (Galatians
However,
we can solve the problem of the fellowship of the saints by promoting the fruit
of the Spirit in the saints. Where this
is found you have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, and self-control (Galatians
5:22-23).
How
would you like to be in a situation where only these kinds of people were
found? You say, I would love to be
there. That is exactly what every
congregation of the Lord's people is supposed to be, no more and no less. Such would surely promote peace.