Sabbath: Causes of Disunity
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Deut. 28:1-14, Jer. 3:14-18, Judg. 17:6, 1 Kings 12:1-16, 1 Cor. 1:10-17, Acts 20:25-31.
Memory Text: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10, NKJV).
Old Testament prophets repeatedly called upon the people of Israel to obey God’s instructions. Disobedience and carelessness would lead to apostasy and disunity. Obedience to God’s laws was intended as a means to preserve the people from the natural consequences of sin and to sanctify them in the midst of many foreign nations. Following God’s will would create harmony among the people and strengthen their community resolve to withstand the inroads of the pagan and evil worship practices that surrounded them from almost every direction. God’s intention was for His people to be holy and to be a witness to the nations around them.
As the Lord said to them after delivering the Hebrews from Egypt: “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’ ” (Deut. 4:5-6, NKJV).
No question: were they to remain faithful, His people would be greatly blessed and would have been a blessing to others. Unfaithfulness, though, would lead to a host of problems, disunity being just one of many.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 13.
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The main cause of disunity is self-interest, or selfishness. It is the sin that consumed Lucifer, tempted Eve, drove Adam, and remains the reason why we lie, cheat, covet, etc, today. It is no coincidence that when Jesus restated the law in the New Testament he said the two great commandments were to love God and one another. Self-interest did not rate a mention.
We often put up a wall to protect ourselves and our perception of the status quo. Unfortunately, we often have self-interest at heart when arguing our own beliefs, refusing to see issues from the perspective of others. We reinforce our views by telling our opponents to be led by the Holy Spirit, or to follow Jesus more closely. There is no high moral ground to stand on in disunity. If we, the church, are not united, we are part of the problem. We must apply the principle of putting God and others first, if we want to claim a relationship with God.
Welcome back.
Thank you for explaining seed of disunity stems from self-interest or selfishness.
We can use religion as a cover to promote our own self-interest.
Thank You
Thank you Newbegin. I’m not back yet - another month of wandering in the outback - but I am in range of the Internet. I’m actually sitting in Sabbath School in Broome, Western Australia.
Maurice, I was wondering if you were anywhere in the area of Brisbane during the torrential rains and flooding of 2015,that took the lives of five people? The article that I read made me think of you. People ignored warnings.
No Paul, we live about 1000km south of that area. That particular flood was exacerbated by a lot of bad management. In fact the managers of the flood mitigation dam used the wrong working manual for the situation. Probably a lesson in that for us too if we think about it.
Maurice
The importance of what you have touched on in your first paragraph above is HUGE.
You have outlined and contrasted the 2 core (root cause) principles that respectively underpin the only 2 'ways' of being (Jn 10:10): the Kindgom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.
The Kingdom of God operates on the principle of the kind of love that Jesus was referring to in Matt 22:36-40 and the inevitable, cause-and-effect result of those who live their lives on that basis is unity. This is the narrow 'way' that leads to abundant life (Matt 7:14).
By contrast, the Kingdom of Satan operates on the principle of self-interest/selfishness (Isa 14:13-14). The inevitable, cause-and-effect result of those who live their lives on that basis is disunity. This is the broad 'way' that leads to destruction (Matt 7:13). The bible also frequently refers to this ways as the way of 'perishing' (as per Jn 3:16, 2 Pet 3:9, etc).
I really hope people can catch the significance of what you were outlining. In addition to being a foundational concept for understanding how unity works, it is also a foundational concept for understanding the nature and character of God, the Bible, Salvation, and a whole lot more. That is why I say it is HUGE.
Their obedience was to be the light to the known world.
Obedience to the law was never intended for a selfish motive or selfish gain on the part of the Israelite.
1 Kings 10
When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his RELATIONSHIP to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.
She heard - The people come to listen to our message
she came to test - They test our message
Mahatma Gandhi — 'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'
The world is looking for authentic Christianity.
How is our relationship with the Lord?
I was thinking about what you wrote.
If Mahatma Gandhi liked our Christ, but didn't like our Christians, I wonder what he would have thought about the God we have portrayed? Liked or not-liked?
A friend had this phrase on her desk. They are words to life. “When my eyes are on Jesus and not on those around me, this is a place of peace”. May we all find that peace in Jesus
From a practical viewpoint, my experience is that disunity frequently (i [NOT CAPS] will use the less universal expression) is caused by a specialized kind of ignorance. WILLFUL ignorance of another's viewpoint. It is willful even though we are often NOT aware of doing it. We ignore other viewpoints because we are in the HABIT of emphasizing our own viewpoint. The habitual nature of the process facilitates our not being aware, and helps us to feel justified in our part of the disunifying process.
Perhaps a reminder of Jesus’ own words about what constitutes church unity would be useful; “Where two or three are gathered together...” Matt 18:20
Hi Ronald
I'm not quite sure what you are suggesting, so please allow me to ask rather than assume what I think you might mean.
Are you suggesting that 2 or 3 people getting together is sufficient for unity? Or were you implying something more?
Thanks
Just a short comment to add to the question Phil. There were Jewish Christian (more than 2 or 3) in the early church who were united in killing Paul. There were also the 'Crusaders'who were united in killing others who did not believe what they believed. What unity is the bible talking about? Can we be united in Christ yet no believe in the same denominational doctrines or traditions (eg. the early Christians and the circumcision issue)?
Georgia, these who united for the course of killing Paul, were they Christians? This has always baffled me, and what do it mean to be a Christian?
Well said Georgia.
The term disunity means to separate or divide. The applications are numerous. When they are personal, we then understand more readily what changes may be needed.
Some incidents are frequently found in organizations such as churches,over differences between members. Matthew 6:21 may have some relativity to disunity and the correction needed to remedy it. However, disunity applications, must allow differences of opinion. God allows us to make choices, even if they are poor choices.
The LORD's mission was and is to restore His Creation to Holiness.
disunity will always exist in a world because of sin. no amount of works will result in disunity not being present in any group inhabiting this world
Disunity has been the core root of apostasy in many churches in this day and age. people continue disassociating themselves with religion because we do not show the love of God, while vowing to be Christians.
May we pray for our churches may we frequently ask the holy spirit to intervene, for my fear is many leaving the ark of Jesus in the hour
Lihle, the question is, "What causes disunity?" And before we answer that, perhaps we need to think about what kind of unity we should strive for.
I'm thinking of Christ words, "By this all shall know that you are my disciples - that you love one another." (John 13:35) I can't find where Jesus prays or teaches that we should all think the same or believe exactly the same.
I tend to think that disunity is caused by pride of opinion and lack of humility - both of which are symptoms of a lack of love. (See 1 Cor 13:4-8)
Being egocentric and differing sentiments sometimes leads to disunity.
You either listen to the creator or a serpent. Follow what creator instructed you will bear fruits of the spirit, there will be love, peace, unity and Harmony. You follow the Flesh... its fruits come with pride, hate and disunity. Disobeying God is a cause of disunity.