We Must Stand Together
Psalm 133:1

Why Do We Need Unity?

 The World is Hurting

There is a necessity for Christian people to come together today as there has not been for many years.  The once-solid home environment that produced young people hungering for achievement and Christians steeped in faith has eroded.  Instead, in many instances, it has been replaced by a selfish materialistic gathering place for parents seeking  to gain greater worldly goods who provide little guidance to young people too influenced by society.  We're told "it's your thing, do it any way you want to
do it".  The media blathers that 'God is dead' and there is no such thing as a 'satan'.  But, divorces continue, suicide rates keep climbing, drug usage is rampant and collectively, the world is an unhappy place.

The Church is Too Often Ineffective

 Many churches would rather live in a truce with the world than present the uncompromising Word of God.  All too often the Church has very little impact in today's society.  Most ministers are more worried about building a new building and collecting offerings than about building the Church body and collecting and strengthening new members.  (Unless, of course, those new members are capable of donating large sums of money.)  Economic,  social, and personal problems are not dealt with by many churches because they're not part of the popular agenda. 

In fact, many times the church is part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.  All too  often the church turns away people who come for help.  They have sanctimonious reasons such as:  "this person isn't part of the image that we're trying to present" or "this will distract us from our agenda".  Also,  people outside of the church see the churches competing with one another.  They spend more time trying to "out-perform" rather than trying to "out-present" the word of God, and they back-stab one another.  They even see  members and church leaders doing the same things in the church that are being done in the gutters of the world.  The problem definition is simple.  Too many people lean to their own understanding and do not choose to assemble themselves together in God's spirit.

How Do We Become United?

Psalm 133:1 tells, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."  But how do we do that?

Put Aside Self

Christians are related by a common belief in Jesus Christ.  We all have different desires, needs and goals.  But our belief in God is our unifying factor.  The Apostle Paul tells us that "I must die to self daily".  If the church as a body is to succeed, the members must put aside 'self' for the common good.  Selfishness has no place in a community of believers.  Paul also tells us that we are a corporate body, and  the all of our members must work together.  When this happens, not only is it "good and pleasant", but great deeds are also able to be accomplished.  When the Holy Spirit is allowed to be the unifying force, dissimilar  people, with conflicting personalities and backgrounds are able to join together in a bond of love, and work together to fulfill God's purpose.

     This power can also be realized in our relationships.   When man and woman obey God's command to stand together, they can defeat the outside powers coming against them.  Putting aside self for the good of your partner keeps Satan from getting in your relationship.  Rest  assured that he does not want you to stand together.  And to prevent that, he will introduce selfishness and misdirected goals into the union.  His intent is to keep you apart and render you ineffective at home, which  limits your effectiveness in all other areas of your life.

The question is, how long are we going to look at situations going bad – in our relationships, in our churches, in our communities – and do nothing?  How  committed are we to doing the right thing – even in the face of opposition from the devil? 

If you're tired of standing alone, of doing your thing and going nowhere, of not seeing God's power working in your life and in the  life of your church, there's a solution.  Jesus says, "Come, be with me.  Take my yoke upon you (believe in me) and learn of me."  You don't have to face the trials of this world alone.  You have a family of believers that God has provided to help you stand in the face of adversity.  

What Will Happen When We Unite?

There's a command in the Army: Stack Arms.  When firearms are stacked properly, they stand, holding each other up.  However, if they're  stacked haphazardly the entire lot falls apart.  In this same way, a haphazard, or cursory  approach to Christian unity can cause the body of Christ to also fall apart.  This fall often damages the power available to us – and certainly limits our responsiveness and effectiveness in our battle against the enemy.

It's time for the Salem District to be about our Father's business.  We have been commissioned to teach and preach the gospel  – God's good news.  We are here together.  We must stand together.  We must worship together.  And we must serve together.   We are a family working and striving to achieve goals that give God, not man, the glory.  The time to start is now.  God has promised power, victory, peace, joy and abundant life.

The question is, are you willing to stand together?