Thoughts on the 4th of July

Is the United States of America really “united”? It seems that in this country there is a lot of division. There are different political parties, and there are different beliefs between those parties. Even within each and every party there are differing beliefs. All these differences point to one word, and that word is division. Party is fighting party, and man letting down his fellow man. There are courts held with differing opinions. There are lawyers fighting lawyers. There are news stations competing with others over the recent political battles. This nation is full of division. 

Isn’t it funny that on Independence Day, or the 4^th of July, our country gets united with a patriotic mindset? We forget about our differing ideas. We forget about who said what and who believes what, and we come together to celebrate the liberty of this nation.

This is sad when a nation cannot get together in unity except for important days in our county’s history, but what about the church? Do we ever find disunity within the church? Unfortunately we do.  This sister is talking about that sister. This brother is arguing with that brother. This preacher is talking badly about that preacher. This elder is criticizing the other elder. These deacons are in an uproar. But, when Sunday comes around, we all come together to worship God as if nothing happened! 

What? Is this the way God intended the church to be? No, in fact, it is the exact opposite. God wanted his church to be unified as one solid unit (e.g. Ephesians 4:4-6).  He wanted the church to look out for each other’s needs as the priority, even above self’s (Philippians 2:3). He wanted us to “…love one another, for love is from God” (1 John 4:7, NASB). 

If we, as the church, are arguing, gossiping, and hurting one another outside of worship, but then coming together in “unity” during worship, what are we accomplishing? The answer is nothing, because, “the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).  If we do not love each other, then we do not know God. If we do not know God, then we are not His children, and if we are not His children our worship service is in vain. 

Am I saying that all of the church is this way? Not at all. But, we must be careful how we treat one another, because the sad fact is, sometimes this is the case. We cannot live in disunity six out of the seven days of or our week and expect to be alright. Instead, let us lift up one another and seek each other’s needs above our own, so that we can live in oneness, and truly be a united church under our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!