For Christians, unity is a powerful force

WHILE watching the president's State of the Union address last month, I became more convinced that the state of our union is one of disunity. From where they sit, to when they stand, and what draws their applause, our political leaders model the essence of disunity.

I realize that this is part of our country's political tradition and is orchestrated to build the faith of their political constituents. It is our right to disagree with each other, but the ability to remain unified while in disagreement is what sustains any worthwhile relationship. Marriages live or die on this very thing, and sports teams overachieve when unity is regarded as important as performance.

Down through our history, unity despite disagreement has been a great strength of our country, but in recent years those that lead us have cared less about unity and more about control. It is the greatest threat our nation faces, even more threatening than any attack our enemy can devise.

Christianity does not condemn disagreement nor instruct its followers to reject those who disagree with them. Jesus wanted disciples who were fervent followers committed to him and their faith, while at the same time living the great commandment: "To love your neighbor as yourself."

One cannot be faithful to him without loving his neighbor. He wanted wise, gentle servants who reveal his heart and life. Just days before his arrest and eventual crucifixion Jesus prayed for his followers, "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father; that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me" (John 17:21 - NLT).

For Jesus, the greatest evidence of his relationship to God the Father is the unity of his followers. How they treated each other especially in conflict and disagreement would speak volumes about Christ's authenticity. If we cannot love those whom we agree with then how will we love those with whom we are in disagreement?

To God, unity is a powerful tool. It is the choice of the individual to learn how to be uncompromising in his core values and beliefs without attacking and rejecting those who oppose them. I believe it's a learned skill and when practically applied to any situation reveals love for people and God is pleased.

To be a great leader, worthy to be followed, it's a necessary skill. More than anyone else Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Billy Graham epitomized the characteristic of unity while remaining committed to their God-given causes. This is what makes their legacies great.

Instead of starting with political parties or racial groups, we need to begin with the individual. Unity is a choice that starts with me. Just like faith, it begins in the heart not the mind. Each day we are given many opportunities to reveal our unity or disunity with our neighbor, what will we choose? God is not asking us to wait for our political leaders to show us the way, but rather to show them the way by how we treat each other. *

(Editor's note: The Rev. Albert Rossi is associate pastor of administration and teaching at Bethel . . . The Church at Franklin Mills. For more info on the church, visit its Web site at www.fmchurch.net).