Obstacles to Unity

Here is a partial list. Feel free to add more!

1. Church Division and Hyperdenominationalism

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 discusses divisions in the church, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another ...Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 7For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

2. Doubt

What makes you think it will be any different this time? How can we come together in unity when we have so many differences of opinion?

The enemy loves to flood us with doubt when we try to be faithful in serving God. God may have shown us a mission that seems like "Mission Impossible" given our present resources. We have to remember that God is with us and will help us tackle God-sized missions.

The power of doubt is based on the lies involved. Satan will tell us many things in attempt to get us to doubt. He'll say things like: "God will not help you", "You didn't hear God correctly", "God has given up on you" or "God is punishing you".

In order to stave off an impending "storm of doubt," we must call to mind the truth about whatever lies we're being tempted to believe. Here are possible verses you could use to refute the above lies: Psalm 5:12, Philippians 4:19, John 10:27 and Proverbs 3:5-7 to name a few.

3. Satan does not want UNITY

In What Can Kill a Church a lesson by Gary Henry he says, four things can jeopardize any congregation of God’s people.

Persecution – Rev. 2:9-10, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 Peter 4:12. 

False teaching – Rev. 2:2, 6, 13-15, Acts 20:29-30. 

Worldliness – 1 John 2:15-17, Luke 8:14. 

Indifference - Rev 2:4, Prov. 18:9

And these are just some of the verses!

4. Selfish Ambition

In Philippians 2:3 it says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Human nature is to live to please ourselves. Our goals in life will reflect what we are living for and ultimately who is controlling our lives. If we are living to please ourselves instead of God, then we must take action to bring our will into submission to God's will. This should be part of our daily "dying to sin" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:31 and 1 Peter 2:24.

I would also include worry about others stealing your flock, your pulpit or the churches money. Of course you must be wise in your dealings and know that Satan is trying to steal from you but trust God. He can fill your churches and supply all your needs.

5. Doctrinal Differences

Ok, so here is where I jump off into the deep murky waters…I’m not going to argue, I believe Satan uses this more than almost anything else to deceive us. The only truth is the Word of God. At this point I’m sure some will lead out about deciphering the Bible, then there will be a theological discussion about who’s Bible is more correct, then about what Jesus’ hair color was and then…

There were more than 4 million sites on the web regarding doctrine, so what can I say? If you believe in one God and believe that his son Jesus died for your sins. As Emeril says, “Bam”. Put aside your differences, you serve the same God. John 3:16

Remember Satan wants to divide and conquer. Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

6. Inwardly Focused

A church can quickly become inwardly focused. In the Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer it says, “…all one has to do is look at the ministries and programs. What can be quickly discovered is that most churches build ministries to satisfy the already fed. These programs are good to keep the flock happy. Not necessarily a bad thing, but too much of a good thing ends up being a bad thing.”

Are we reaching a lost and dying world with hope and encouragement?

7. Idolatry

This subject is so important that God has asked me to write a whole blog focusing on the idolatry entitled “American Idol”. I really want to pick apart what we may not even see as idols in our lives. Look for it soon.

You may think this is absent from today’s Church, but it is very alive. Beloved programs, versions of the Bible, furniture, paintings on the wall and the placement of objects have caused more quarrels than I care to mention. We have taken these items to god-like levels in the church and forgotten the main thing. [from Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer]