Love and Unity
Blessed is the place where love is, for God is always there.
How can we love one another? In 1 Cor. 2:2 Paul shows the way; “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ.” Jesus left two significant words on how we as Christians should be related to one another: UNITY AND LOVE, which lies at the centre of the Christian message.
Unity
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us: so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).
Our Lord’s prayer for unity is in our hearts. Unity encourages faith among those who do not believe. Paul added this in Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
There are signs of great disunity all over the world in churches/ecclesias and in outside organisations. We are greatly weakened in faith and in some cases actually halted and by such action – disunity – the growth of anti-Christian forces results. Unity is very important.
Love
Jesus said “Abide in my love”. “My commandment is this: Love each other as I have loved you,” (John 15:12). It is not a suggestion but a commandment, and in John 13:34-35 he said the same.
It makes me worried to see that in some cases there are quarrels in ecclesias. As a result ecclesias cease. This is God’s ultimate judgement upon ecclesias that do not love and seek unity. All Christians over the world should pray for love and unity.
Indeed there are serious matters that divide most of the Christian groups. Let me mention a few of them:
- Control of finances.
- Proper interpretation of scripture.
- Tribal conflicts.
- Missionary policies.
- Leadership roles – democratic or autocratic.
- Worship style – and so on.
One of these points I have mentioned may cause divisions in some Christian groups or denominations. If you read the pamphlet “One Bible many Churches” you would get the point. Christ is the source of our Unity and Love. It is to Christ that we point all humanity. Let us make our ecclesias a home for every Christian where Christ’s love fills everyone. Christ must be the centre of our fellowship and life together as believers. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you,” said Jesus. “Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9).
We would not be as a branch thrown away and that ultimately withers. These words are a warning to us. It is very disappointing to see that we can be the source of misunderstandings in our ecclesias. Love is the foundation of Christianity because God sent His beloved son to save us, John 3:16. The greatest commandment is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Matthew 22:37), and the second we ”Love your neighbour as yourself.”
If we love our God and our neighbour, we will be like a man who built a house on top of a hard rock. Jesus also told us to go and do like the Samaritan in Luke 10:33-37. He did all that because of the love he had for that man and for God’s commandment. God is love, so we should unite and love each other so that God will add some more days to us to repent before Jesus comes on this earth to establish God’s Kingdom.
Bro. Simeon Mwakalinga (Iganga, Tanzania)
