Years ago, when my three girls were younger, they came to me and demanded an answer to the question of which of them was my favourite.  The stipulation was that I could only pick one! I laughed and said, “together you are all my favourite.” The answer didn’t satisfy them, but it did make me smile! If you are a parent you have at some point no doubt, jumped into the foray of bickering siblings with the words; “why can’t you just get along with each other!” After all, if we are a part of the same family, shouldn’t we be able to live in peace, harmony, and love?  But … oh wait, yes, we all have a sin nature that kind of gets in the way if we’re not careful!

Jesus said that all people, including those unbelieving neighbours, friends across the street, people we work with, will KNOW we are His disciples if we have love for one another (John 13:35). He gave context to that statement by giving the disciples a new commandment and an example, a benchmark to evaluate ourselves (vs. 34); A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

So how did Jesus love us? He looked beyond our failings, our sin, our sense of entitlement, our problematic sin nature, and He loved us unconditionally. There were no strings attached, no performance-based love, and He went to the cross for us. As believers today our expression of love and unity with other believers is being greatly challenged by the frustration many feel in this COVID-19 pandemic. As Christians, we so easily divide into partisan groups with different sides of opinion. We take to social media to voice those opinions, condemn those who we disagree with and often use mocking tones towards others of the same family.  I have to ask myself; “Do we take the words of Jesus seriously enough to learn to get along with each other, even when we disagree? Does our conduct with other believers point lost people to Jesus, or hinder them from knowing Jesus?”

For believers, the theme of unity is sprinkled throughout Scripture. Psalm 133:1 reminds us; Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell in unity. In the Sermon on the Mount teaching, Jesus said that when we bring a gift before the Lord, we are to examine our own heart, and if we have something against a brother or sister, go and reconcile with the other before offering the gift (Matt. 5:24). When we celebrate the Lord’s table, we use the same metaphor of examining our heart, reconciling with brothers and sisters before we partake of the table (1 Cor. 11:28). The apostle Paul encouraged two believing sisters, who were at odds, to reconcile with one another (Phil. 4:2).

Getting along with each other and unity within the Body is a powerful witness in pointing others to Jesus. It gives hope to those who feel isolated and alone.  It draws in those who feel they don’t belong, who haven’t experienced being part of a healthy nurturing family. Getting along with others, especially when we disagree on issues is the practical outcome of our own transformational encounter with the risen Saviour. From this attitude flows value and respect for one another.

As we enter the Easter season, let us focus on getting along with each other even in a pandemic environment where there are multiple views and opinions. Romans 5:8 tells us; but God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. There was nothing in and of ourselves that merited what Jesus did for us. While we were yet sinners states emphatically that in the very act of sinning, with no understanding of our own sin and while still rejecting God, Christ went to the cross to reconcile us back to the Father. How then can we live at odds with others in the family?

Praying for unity as we point others to Jesus!

Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President