It is all our responsibility to protect the unity of God’s Church.

Unity is so important to God that the New Testament gives more attention to it than either heaven or hell. Break unity with your own desires, & you rip the heart out of the Body of Christ. Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than His Church!

Paul says in Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. You see, you have a responsibility to protect unity!

How do we do that?

1. Focus on what we have in common & not our differences.

Conflict, is usually a sign that the focus is on our own desires. Whether you like this Minister or that Minister, whether you like the music or not, or whether you think Children’s or Youth ministry is done right or not, is not as important than the unity of God’s Church.

It’s OK to disagree, but too many times we do that at the expense of loving one another.

2. Choose to encourage rather than criticize.

It is always easier to stand on the side lines & take shots at those who are serving.

The Bible calls Satan the accuser. It’s the Devils job to blame, complain & to criticise.

Don’t do his work!

3. Refuse to listen to Gossip.

Remember people who gossip to you will probably gossip about you!

They are the people who often want to criticize anonymously.

4. Practice the Matthew 18 Principle.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.”

The principle is, if you have a problem with someone don’t try to win favour with others to criticise & carry on like a turkey. Go to your brother or sister lovingly without triangulation & explain your difficulty.

5. Support your leader.

There are no perfect leaders, but God gives leaders the responsibility & authority to preach & pastor people & to do what’s best for the whole of God’s Church not just the individuals that support him. When leaders are involved with other things at the expense of their God given responsibilities, he will not be effective at his ministry.

God blesses churches that are united. So protect, promote & pray for unity above your own agenda’s & let’s give Ron & Julie Irving every possible reason to do their ministry with the greatest of joy & pleasure!

Tony Galea

John’s letter has been compared to a spiral staircase because he keeps returning to the same three topics: love, obedience, and truth. Though these themes recur, it is not true that they are merely repetitious. Each time we return to a topic, we look at it from a different point of view and are taken more deeply into it.
We have already learned about our love for other believers—“the brethren” (1 John 2:7–11)—but the emphasis in 1 John 2 was on fellowship. A believer who is “walking in the light” will evidence that fact by loving their brother and sister. In our present section, the emphasis is on his relationship with other believers which will create unity & harmony in the Church.

Christians love one another because they have all been born of God, which makes them all brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are Family. We are One In Love!

Tony Galea