A Church United in a World Divided

What if the most compelling witness for Christ in our culture today isn’t our arguments, but our unity?

As Pastor Brandon highlights in his sermon, in an era marked by division, believers have an opportunity to showcase the power of the Gospel through unity and love towards one another.

Unity isn't simply an ideal; it's essential to our mission.

Division: Part Of Our Fallen Nature

Today’s intense polarization may feel uniquely stark.

This is supported by a recent Gallip poll which found that 80% of Americans perceive their nation as deeply divided on fundamental values – that’s an all-time high.

Division is nothing new – it’s an aspect of human sinfulness, stretching back to the Fall.

Pastor Brandon points out:

“Division is not uniquely a 21st-century thing… It's not uniquely a modern thing. It is inherently a human thing.”

Division Endangers Us

Division harms us in three respects 

1. Our relationships

It’s common to hear Republicans speak poorly about Democrats, and vice versa. 

This divisive talk is symptomatic of a deeper rift that’s happening between people, and even friendships. 

In fact, one study found that political division amidst the 2016 election led to 13% of people losing a friend.

2. Our church community 

Pastor Brandon highlights that division is a primary tool the enemy uses against the church:

 "I think division is one of the enemy's greatest tactics… The enemy cannot defeat the church. And so he is resigned to attempting to divide the church, and a divided church is an ineffective church. And so if we're busy fighting each other, then the enemy doesn't even have to fight us."

3. Our worship

 Division can also tempt us into idolatry, where we create a version of God who aligns neatly with our own biases and opinions.

As Brandon notes, referencing author Anne Lamott:

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."

Christian unity as Opportunity

In such times, the church has a chance to model a unity that showcases the reconciling power of the Gospel.

Jesus Himself emphasized this kind of unity, and prayed for it in John 17:20:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."

When Christians are united, it directly reflects the divine unity between the Father and the Son.

It also authenticates our witness to the world. 

Unity: Our Loudest Sermon

Our witness to the world isn't necessarily found in how convincingly we argue, but how authentically we unite. 

Jesus explicitly connects unity to evangelism:

“Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).

Therefore, Brandon states:

“Scripture teaches that our influence on the world is directly tied to the unity that we display.”

The Proper Hierarchy of Loyalties

Real unity begins by rightly ordering our loyalties. 

Political opinions, social affiliations, or personal identities must never overshadow our identity in Christ.

We should let go of titles such as “progressive Christian” or “conservative Christian,” and embrace our identity as “Christian”, first and foremost.

As Brandon puts it this way:

 “So for the Christian, our primary identity and our primary loyalty is no longer in our nationality. It's not in our color, it's not in our gender, our sexuality, our family, our economic status, our common interests. It's not even in our favorite sports teams. It's not in our alma mater or our political party, but our primary loyalty and solidarity with others is our oneness in Christ.”

When Christ is genuinely first, divisions lose their power.

Practical Steps Towards Unity

Unity is not abstract – it’s a culture and state of relationship that we actively build through everyday actions:

• Prioritize Prayer:

  Commit to praying consistently for unity in your church and broader community.

• Exercise Humility:

  Prioritize relationships over proving your point.

  The Union City Liturgy emphasizes this: “Grant me the humility to place greater value on people over my personal perspectives.”

• Practice Restraint:

  Engage thoughtfully and gently, especially on contentious issues or social media.

  Reflect Christ’s character in your responses

Sermon Highlights

• “He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God: himself." - C.S. Lewis

• “Division is not uniquely a 21st-century thing... It is inherently a human thing.”

• “Our influence on the world is directly tied to the unity that we display.”

Watch the full sermon, "A Church United in a World Divided," here.