Please Stop Calling for Unity
My purpose in this forum is to encourage others by making application of Scriptural principles to leadership and ‘real life’ subject matter.”--RT
Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." And, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape."
It is very in vogue in the past weeks for calls for unity to ring forth from the victorious political genre. Of course, we forget that we were the ones proclaiming "Not my President" that past two election cycles. There is cause for relief (perhaps--we will see) in the election result, but at least for me, "relief" falls short of "rejoicing." Red, white and blue are fine for now; but my real allegiance I reserve for the "gold, silver and precious stones" of 1 Cor. 3:12.
But, that on which I really want to comment are the hollow calls for "unity" that are ringing forth. In the words of Inego to Vizinni in the Princess Bride, "You keep using that word; I do not think it means what you think it means." It was for the cause of humanistic unity that God scattered the followers of Nimrod at the Tower of Babel; and, it is the false cause of "unity" (e.g., "fellowship") that Paul addresses in Ephesians 5:11. Unity is one of those "world peace" causes--how can one possibly be against such a magnanimous and noble pursuit? In the view of the kosmos, only a cretan, barbarian, "hateful homophobic preacher-types," or other unenlightened person could be against unity! That lying standard will never change so long as we remain in alien territory, and playing by an alien rules-set.
The problem is that unity requires agreement, and agreement requires common purpose. Once upon a time, I sponsored a quasi-scientific study that set about to discover "Most Unifying Factor(s)" by asking the opinion of many hundreds of people by means of a questionnaire. The result? #1 most unifying factor was "Common enemy." #2--"Common goal," #3--"Common belief." Now, please tell me which of those three can believers and unbelievers rally around? The answer is "none of the above." You may have noticed that the kingdoms of this world refuse to compromise, to "meet you halfway," or to look for areas of agreement. They will agree on unity, but only if you accept their conditions for surrender, their conditions of rulership, their conditions of goal and outcome.
Christians, please quit calling for unity in the wake of the ostensible results of the last election. Not only will it not happen, it should not happen, because that would mean that we have joined the outcry of "peace and safety" that will be so prevalent in the last days (1 Thess. 5:3). Jesus, by His own proclamation, did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Is it too much to ask that His people keep sight of what the Master came to do, rather than cave to the humanistic element that would crush us under its heel if it could?