A House United: How the Gospel Calls the Church to Unity

In 1858, Abraham Lincoln stood before a divided nation and issued a warning: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” His words, drawn from Jesus in Matthew 12:25, were more than political rhetoric—they were a biblical truth about the consequences of division.
The same principle applies to the church today. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Paul pleads for unity among believers. The Corinthian church was splitting into factions—some claiming allegiance to Paul, others to Apollos, Peter, or even Christ in a way that bred superiority rather than unity. Paul’s response was direct: Christ is not divided, and His people shouldn’t be either.

Unity is Essential, Not Optional
Church unity isn’t just a nice idea; it’s central to our witness. In a world marked by division, the church is called to display something radically different—a unity rooted in the gospel. Paul’s appeal is urgent, almost like an emergency alert. If we don’t take unity seriously, we compromise the message of Christ.

What Does Unity Look Like?

Paul gives four key marks of unity:

1.Unity in Speech – “That you all agree” doesn’t mean uniformity in every opinion, but rather one voice when it comes to the gospel. The church should be known for proclaiming the same message: Jesus saves.

2.No Divisions – Division isn’t just disagreement; it’s a wound in the body of Christ. The enemy loves a fractured church because it weakens our gospel witness.

3.Being Knit Together – Unity is more than the absence of conflict; it’s an active pursuit of oneness. It requires humility, grace, and reconciliation.

4.Shared Mind and Judgment – The church must rally around the gospel, not personal preferences. When Jesus is our focus, unity flourishes.

The Danger of Divisions
The Corinthians weren’t splitting over heresy but over personal preferences—who their favorite preacher was. Today, the same thing happens: divisions over worship styles, leadership preferences, or church traditions. When we elevate secondary issues over the gospel, we fracture the body of Christ.

The Remedy: Keep Christ at the Center
Paul redirects the Corinthians to the only thing that truly unites: Christ and His cross. Pastors, traditions, and church programs can never be the foundation of our faith—only Jesus can. When we focus on Him, our differences become secondary, and our unity becomes a testimony to the world.

A Call to Action
Unity isn’t passive; it’s something we must actively pursue. Ask yourself:
•Am I contributing to unity in my church, or am I stirring division with criticism and preference-driven opinions?
•Do I place my identity in Christ, or in a certain leader, tradition, or style?
•Am I willing to lay down my preferences for the sake of the gospel?

A unified church is one of the greatest witnesses to the world. Let’s be a people who put Christ above all else, so the world sees not just another divided institution, but a family transformed by the love of Jesus.