Where's the Unity?

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"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" - (Ps. 133:1, NASB)

   I am not a huge social media guy, except when it comes to posting things about the LORD. With this said, over the last month I have either joined or been invited to numerous groups on a social media site. Since these are groups I have joined, most of the time I agree with the items that are shared regardless of who they are from. There will always be the occasional nuance that will cause some disagreement, but as a whole we agree. Among these groups I also find that there are those whose opinions of Biblical things are far different from mine. This does not surprise me, for we see this in our local churches. Then there will be the quote or statement that demands that some well-meaning individual come to rescue with Scripture to show the brother or sister the error of their ways. In all honesty, I have no problem with any of these, for I believe that the LORD has given us some latitude in our approach to worship and things of God, as long as we maintain a right spirit in doing so.
   What has surprised me in some of these groups is the spirit with which some communicate. The progression seems to start with casual conversing, then move to debating, and finally onto arguing. It is at this point that I have seen "Christian" brothers and sisters come to virtual blows, name calling, slander, backbiting, hatred, bigotry, and division. In most cases, it seems to be over things that just are not eternal, although there will be disagreement on the "eternality" of the issue. If you look at Galatians chapter five, this is how those "in the flesh" live, not those "in the Spirit." Sometimes our passionate "debates" cause spiritual casualties that we cannot see now, but will see in the future.
    It is a pleasant place to be where unity abounds. The only way unity can abound is that love abounds. Not love as the world sees it, but love as God sees it. The kind of love that esteems others more important than self. Jesus even told His disciples that the world would recognize them as true disciples by their love for each other (Jn. 13:35). Love has won many more people to Christ then debate.
   I will likely suffer some backlash over this post, but that is okay. I do not have all the answers, and neither does anyone else. Furthermore, we have all sinned and come short of God's glory, and I am including myself in the group. However, the fact is that there are some folks out there who just enjoy a good fight. Call it a discussion, debate, banter, conversation or something else, but it really is just an attempt to be right and have the last word. Take my advice: Avoid these quarrels! Once the "conversation" becomes personal, objectivity is gone (if it was there in the first place), and there are no winners, only losers.
   "Jesus, give us unity in our lives, homes, and churches."

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