Constant Coulibaly

When Jesus was about to leave the earth and return to heaven, He prayed for unity among His disciples. He prayed to God that "they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21) Yet division has reigned among those who claim to be followers of Christ since His departure.

The unity of Christians, a pressing issue in our generation, was already a subject of concern in the first century. In Colossians 2, we learn that Paul had received from Epaphras, a member of the church at Colossae in Asia Minor, a report that the Colossians were faithful and loving. But Epaphras also informed Paul of some beliefs foreign to Christianity that had infiltrated the church. Some brethren believed it was acceptable to worship angels and created physical things such as the moon. These practices had their origins in a mixture of Mosaic laws, rabbinic traditions, and Greek philosophy. They adulterated the gospel of Christ.

This situation prompted Paul to write to the Colossians and strongly warn them against deviating from Christ's doctrine. The Apostle Paul warned that the Colossians were in danger of losing their eternal reward, only guaranteed by the gospel, if they continued to listen to the false teachers who promoted such falsehoods. "Let no man beguile you of your reward," he said (Colossians 2:18). Paul sternly cautioned the Colossians using words like "beware," which conveys the idea of serious danger.

There always will be a break in unity among Christians when some brethren stand faithfully while others err from the truth and persist in their error, refusing to heed correction (Jas. 5:19). Division becomes inevitable when all don’t think and speak the same thing, which is something the apostle Paul warned against (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:4-5). Seeking to worship God in one’s own way, instead of worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth” (Jo. 4:24), is likely to cause a schism within the church.

Furthermore, when one member or a group of members try to impose their personal opinions on the church and demand that their views be applied as a matter of religious practice by all, this often leads to disunity. Seeking to enforce individual preferences as biblical standards can disrupt the harmony the body of Christ.

Oftentimes, brethren adopt confrontational stances on hypothetical questions like this one, “What if someone find themselves in the desert where there is no pool of water, how can they be immersed in water for baptism?” Speculative discussions, being unfruitful, can disturb the church.

What Christians need to do to remain united is to never forget that Christ is the Head and to hold Him before them as such. This means we do not seek to live our lives and serve God independently of Christ. Paul said, He is the Head of "the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Christ is the source of all instructions in Christianity, not man. If we learn to obey Him and abide by His word, we will spare ourselves the ills of division and live in harmony. Let us be united in Christ, doing His good will and His will alone (Colossians 3:17).