What steps can we take to avoid division within our church community? Seeing the Problem through Judges 21:9 “Then when the people were counted, behold, not one of the residents of Jabesh-gilead was there.” An empty spot in the assembly spoke louder than words. One tribe chose absence over unity, and that gap opened the door to misunderstanding, hurt, and harsh retaliation. Division often begins just like that—when someone quietly steps out of fellowship and no one notices until conflict erupts. Why Their Absence Still Speaks to Us • Absence breaks accountability. • Absence keeps us from hearing one another’s hearts. • Absence leaves decisions to be made without the missing voices, fostering resentment. • Absence signals that issues are festering unaddressed. Steps We Can Take to Guard Our Unity 1. Show Up—Consistently and Intentionally • Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another…” • Presence says, “I’m committed to you.” 2. Speak Truth in Love • Ephesians 4:15 calls us to grow by “speaking the truth in love.” • Address concerns early—private, gentle, Scripture-anchored conversations prevent silent walls from forming. 3. Pursue Reconciliation Quickly • Matthew 5:24 urges us to “first be reconciled to your brother.” • Make the first move; unity is worth the awkward moment. 4. Keep Vows, Not Vendettas • Israel’s rash oath in Judges 21:5–7 complicated peace. • Ecclesiastes 5:5: “Better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.” • Guard your words; commitments made in anger divide. 5. Remember We Are One Body • 1 Corinthians 12:25–26 stresses that there “should be no division in the body.” • Celebrate differences; every gift matters when the goal is Christ’s glory. 6. Maintain a Culture of Prayer and Humility • James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • Humility disarms conflict before it starts. Verses That Fortify Our Resolve • Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!” • Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” • John 17:21 “…that they may all be one… so that the world may believe…” Putting It into Practice This Week • Check the attendance list; reach out to someone who’s drifting. • Schedule a coffee with a member you rarely talk to and listen more than you speak. • Review your latest social-media comments: do they promote peace or provoke division? • Before Sunday, read 1 Corinthians 13 aloud and ask God to highlight one phrase to live out in every church interaction. When every seat is filled in body and in spirit, the gaps where division sneaks in disappear. Judges 21:9 reminds us that unity is fragile; Scripture shows us how to guard it together—faithfully, practically, and confidently in the power of God’s unchanging Word. |
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