Indivisible is not invisible. In fact, it produces the opposite. It is unity that makes strength. In the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag, these words are recited “one nation, under God, indivisible.” The pledge of unity is a dedication to cause and a strength needed to succeed.
For the people of God there are some things that should never divide us. The Bible teaches unity of believers. Jesus prayed for it (John 17:20-21). The instruction is to speak the same things (I Cor. 1:10-13). The charge to Ephesus and to us is to keep the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3-6). That challenge given by the Holy Spirit of God through the apostle Paul is one that will ever be a challenge for there is no greater oneness than the Godhead. The Roman brethren were to mark false teachers and avoid them. Why, because false teaching sows the seeds of discord which God hates (Prov. 6:19).
Not all division is wrong. There must of necessity be division when the devil is involved (II Cor. 6:14-18). False teaching is of the devil, who is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44). When the teaching of the devil is followed, then division is going to naturally occur between the righteous and the unrighteous. When family and friends refuse to follow the Truth, then one has no choice (Eph. 5:11), but the desire should be to convert and restore treating erring brethren as wayward family.
It is also worthy of consideration to note that not all unity is right (I John 1:5-7). There cannot be true unity with false brethren (Gal. 2:5) and compromise of the Truth will not qualify as unity. Hypocrisy may mask itself for a period of time as unity, but will eventually be found out. Being united does not necessarily mean unity. Two cats tied together by their tails will be united but not unified!
Matters of opinion should not divide the people of God (Matt. 16:19), but many times they do. I was told by a student of H. Leo Boles that brother Boles told his students that he had not seen much division over the Truth, but he had seen a lot of division in the church over matters of opinion. When I heard his observation, it confirmed my experience and corroborated my evidence that most problems in the church come up over opinion, and that should never divide us. Questions of a baptistry, number of songs led, all or some verse sung, partaking of the Lord’s Supper [first, last or middle of service], worship times, church buildings, kitchens, bathrooms, drinking fountains all have divided brethren and continue to do so. All fall in the area of judgment.
Family ties often divide, but should not (Matt. 10:35-39). The highest calling in the world is in the family of God. Jesus exalted this family when He emphasized who His family was and is (Matt. 12:46-50). He warned against letting flesh and blood come between His followers and God (Matt. 10:35-39). Why? We should be indivisible. More to come.
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College