Disunity is a generic word, as is harmony. We must state who the unity or disunity is with plainly. “Peace among brothers” is a rallying cry—but what if we are not actually brothers in the doctrine of Christ? Assuming that everyone in a church body or congregation is a brother is begging the question that God has clarified already in His Word. “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 Jn. 1:9–11). What we actually have when the idea of peace is used to cover false teaching is a failure to trust and apply God’s Word.
Christ is clear: It is His Word that truly unites and divides. If there is unity that is apart from or against God, it is a false unity that must be exposed. That is the difference between the hippie gospel of “can’t we all just get along?” and the true Gospel, which brings the eternal peace won by Christ’s blood for sinners by justifying the ungodly. We mistake God’s peace, which is life and forgiveness of sins, with human peace—just getting along at all costs (even the truth of the Gospel). Singing kumbayah (evidently it originally was an appeal to God) and holding hands is not a replacement for the pure doctrine of the Gospel.
We are afraid to rock the boat and expose satanic false doctrine. But Jesus was not. He overturned the tables of hypocrisy, and it brought Him death. The world’s gospel is don’t say the obvious; just wink at sin, and we can all get along. But that is eternal death, since where there is no repentance, there is no life in Christ. We cannot have sin and Christ at the same time as our masters.
Jesus is ok with disunity—when it means loyalty to Him. In fact, He demands it. Do not be mistaken: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Mt. 10:34). Those who love peace on earth foremost do not love Christ above all things. Since the flesh is at odds with the Lord of holiness, we cannot hold hands with all people and embrace their sin while being faithful to God. We must choose—and sin only allows for one choice. The obvious must be said: we cannot love sin, which is against God’s will, and also love the holy Christ simultaneously. God’s peace entails some disunity on earth, since not all humanity is renewed and filled with the love of God: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt. 10:37). We cannot have multiple, conflicting gods—so the idol of peace must be smashed by the power of God’s Word.
The sword of Jesus is His Word, which divides by the divine truth. It divides flesh and spirit within us and also between those who confess loyalty from those who are actually obedient to the living Christ: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The Word divides us, flesh from spirit, but also people, even families. These divisions are not evil but necessary when they are the result of loving Christ’s salvation above all other things: “for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Cor. 11:19). It is better to be approved by God and face the worst man has to offer than to deny the Lord of life. Nothing man can do can harm the soul. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).
True unity is not acting like we are united and saying nothing controversial that could possibly offend anyone. It is God-given, and all believers are united in Christ, being part of His body. This is not something we make. The Church (the singular, holy church) is not our creation but God’s own work. Church leaders and pastors are not the Holy Spirit, who creates and gives Christ’s own unity. True unity requires division of the worldly kind. To value earthly peace at all costs is an implicit denial of the Lord of all, clothed in human flesh, who died for all sin. Jesus did not sweep sin under the carpet—He bore it on His back and satisfied the wrath of God for all sinners with His own life.
Persecution is the worldly repercussion for disturbing earthly peace with God’s truth. It reveals where our treasure is—not on earth, if it is to last. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Mt. 5:10-11). So have no fear of what is not eternal and lasting. Trust the Word will do Christ’s holy work. We have the truth that endures. It makes all suffering and earthly penalties light, even man’s sword which is far inferior to the sword of the Word. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Rom 8:35).
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