Truly Indivisible

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. - 1 John 2:20

Continuing the theme of church departures from a previous post, John gave the substance of the difference between those who remained in the fellowship and those who left. With apostolic discernment, he stated that those who did not depart the fellowship remained because they were indwelt by the Spirit of God. Those who departed, again speaking with authority, were not so inhabited. Disunity arose because even though they claimed to "have knowledge" and "an anointing from the Holy One," by their actions, unbelievers proved they had neither.

I wish that we could all clearly understand what John quite emphatically states. Often, the cause of disunity in our churches (and I have seen it globally) is not a simple difference of opinion. It is a matter of presence. Those without Christ will find it difficult, if not impossible, to agree with those who are in Christ. Christ's Body, while it is most assuredly diverse, cannot be divided.

In most cases, where there is disunity, there is also unbelief. Perhaps we spend too much effort attempting to get believers and unbelievers into the same yoke.

I value unity because I believe we learn truth from each other in this process. - Rowan Williams