Not For the Purpose

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 

 - From Romans 14

The Apostle Paul makes a compelling case against denominationalism here. He has declared partisanship to be a "heresy" in other places. And, at our Lord's most desperate and helpless moment, at Gethsemane, His most ardent prayer was that His Father make His Church "one," as He and the Father are one. 

I could make a case, that Christian unity is the single most important and urgent priority for all believers, especially today.

The very topic, once broached, turns the countenances of people present into blank stares. It's almost like a toggle switch, that shuts them down. Their thinking stops. Their listening, their understanding, pauses. You wonder if, when it comes to God's priority, we have been hard-wired, by sin, to just shut it down and not even acknowledge that there is such a thing as Christian unity. 

I will get push-back on everything I have said so far. We also are hardwired to believe we are right, in all things. We simply cannot handle being wrong, especially when someone we deem as of lesser value, is the one correcting us. We recoil to other virtues where we excel: 

We're successful in business, profession, and life. 

We have advanced college degrees.

We are respected in the community.

We are a scholar in Greek or Hebrew. 

We belong to the right party. 

We're not a racist. 

But this idea of the Church being unified . . . the very thing Christ pleaded that we would be . . . the very thing that could turn the world around into a positive direction, today . . . is the one we resist. 

I take it as proof that this is indeed, the main thing. 

Adam got defensive, he lied, he blamed his wife, when caught committing a fundamental sin. 

We get defensive, we lie, we blame someone else, when we are caught in defiance of Christ's elemental plea for unity. 

Paul knew that we argue too much. The first-generation Church, comprised of people that had seen the risen Christ personally, argued among themselves. There is so little time. And strife is such a waste of it. 

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?

Your brother or sister! 

God help us.

Oh sure . . . you don't "hate" Trump. You just realize that he is "unfit" for office. And you don't "hate" Biden. You just don't want him leading the country into Communism. Oh, and that person not wearing a mask? Don't get me started . . . 

The Romans to whom Paul addressed his letter certainly did not believe they "hated" their own brethren. But Paul knew better, and we need to know better.

Love is the answer. Still, and always.