(Living as Exiles: Apostolic Letters for Today’s Believers, Part 2)
Beloved in Christ,
I appeal to you with the same words Paul gave the Corinthians: “that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). We live in an age where division is celebrated, and where hatred is stirred as though it were a virtue. The world thrives on faction: political tribes, cultural camps, endless battles of ideology. But you, child of God, are called higher.
Our King said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). That does not mean silence in the face of sin or compromise with evil, but it does mean that the gospel governs your loyalties above every earthly banner. You are not first a citizen of a nation, nor a member of a party, nor a voice in a culture war—you are an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
The enemy longs to entangle the Church in the disputes of the age, to make her forget her mission and lose her witness. If he cannot draw you into sin, he will tempt you into rage. If he cannot silence you, he will make your words harsh and unloving, so that truth is buried under quarrels. But remember the charge of Scripture: “If possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
Therefore, let your speech be seasoned with grace, even when you must stand firm. Speak the truth without venom, correct without cruelty, and oppose evil without becoming evil. Christ did not curse His enemies from the cross—He prayed for them. And so must you.
Why This Matters
Division weakens the witness of Christ in the world. When believers mirror the culture’s rage, we become indistinguishable from those who do not know God. But when we choose the unity of the Spirit and the peace of Christ, we shine as lights in the darkness. Your faithfulness in resisting the pull of factions is not small—it is a declaration that Jesus, not the world, rules your heart.
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