When division occurs in a congregation there is often a rallying cry for unity. Too many people appear to believe that unity can be demanded of church members.
Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. Above all, put on love–the perfect bond of unity. (HCSB)
It is as if we believe we can make a demand for unity in the Body without doing the work to achieve it. Unity is an acquired result. Unity only comes after the putting off of the old nature (verses 8 – 11) and the putting on of the new. The very act of demanding unity works against compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, acceptance, and forgiveness. Unity is the outcome of proper relationships: not the starting point of some sort of forced reconciliation. The best way to deal with conflict in the church is to manage it: allow our concern for one another to prevent disagreements from managing us.
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