Bringing people together in unity is a great and admirable cause.  It is a constant theme of political campaigns, advertising slogans and rock ballads such as the late Michael Jackson´s "We Are The World."  Folk even corruptly bring God in on their unity schemes citing the Lord Jesus´ beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God," (Matthew 5:9, NKJV) to support their efforts.  Never mind that the Lord has making peace with God in repentance and faith as the primary meaning of His declaration.  Most of the corrupters of His words could care less about this.  Their causes of unity are rooted only in and for sentimental human causes.

While admirable as a goal, the unity of sinful humanity has been a problem since wicked Cain murdered his own brother (1 John 3:10-12).  God had to destroy a very violent world in the days of Noah in their lack of unity (Genesis 6:5-8) and eventually confuse the language of those after the flood when they unified in pride and rebellion against Him (Genesis 11:1-9).  Since those days human unity at any level has been difficult, short-lived when attained and the continuing aspiration of dreamers, visionaries and conqueror-rulers who would make it happen by force of might.

Contrary to popular misconception, the Lord Jesus Christ never advocated uniting the world as it is in proclaiming His Kingdom.  He presented Himself to the world as God´s provided solution for man´s alienation from God due to sin.  After this, those that accepted and followed Him would be brought together in a whole new grouping of humanity under His Headship called the Church.  These persons would share Him in common and enjoy a supernatural unity wrought by the inner presence of the Holy Spirit in each heart.  Love for God, Christ and each other would mark these people out as belonging to Him (Matthew 16:13-20; John 10:22-30, 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:1-6).

The Church of Jesus Christ with the heart of our Lord loves all humanity, but by the very real supernatural act of God in the new birth is set apart as holy to Him from the rest of the world.  Therefore, it is unavoidable.  The Jesus Christ of the Bible is a divider of men just as He declared in Matthew 10:34-39!  He calls men out of this present world system to follow Him as King of God´s rival Kingdom.  Those who reject His invitation remain His enemies though He loves them and proved it by dying for their sins (Romans 5:6-11).  So, now, men are either in or outside of Christ.

Echoing his Lord Jesus, the apostle John wrote regarding the reality of a world divided by who is in and outside of Christ, "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you," (1 John 3:13, NKJV).  The Lord said the world would hate us who follow Him because it hated Him first, loves solely its own and hates the Father too (John 15:18-25).  This hatred would divide men right down to the most intimate family relationships.  If it is all like that then, should we be surprised that the Lord foretells non-Christian family members will turn their Christian relatives into the persecuting authorities?  Indeed, this has happened since the 1st century until now and will continue through the days of the Antichrist (Matthew 10: 21-22; Luke 21:16-17; Revelation 13:6-17).

We should not be surprised either that a so-called "culture war" rages in our nation.  It was inevitable as the nation at its highest levels (the Supreme Court, for example) began to kick God and His Word out of what were considered secular institutions a generation ago.  At the same time, rebellion against Judeo-Christian morals and values ensued among the people aided and abetted by secular humanist philosophies.  A century of doctrinal fragmentation and apostasy in the churches is also contributing to a rising degree of intense division in the Christian community and our nation.

Black Americans have never been a monolith.  However, their tentative, but consistent united front against the discriminatory acts of responsible white Americans is breaking down in the face of social issues such as same sex marriage that spill over into the spiritual and political realms.  The once powerful black clergy are being rebuffed by an emerging band of morally liberal, politically astute black media, entertainment and business figures that do not fear the God of their parents or consider Jesus Christ the only way to Him.  They have new gods and alliances with fellow moral liberals of every hue that gives them security.  Thus, in spite of show, there is a growing secular, outward "form of godliness" group and biblically faithful Christian divide in the black community (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV).

Labeling Christians that hold to a biblical worldview as divisive is the new shame tactic used by those in every quarter of society that resent our unwillingness to compromise God´s Word.  Christians that maintain our faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to God and a biblical worldview are not divisive.  We are faithful to our Lord!  What is happening now in the world, our nation and communities is exactly what He said would happen near the end of this fallen world system: we are hated for His sake.  Increasing persecution with violence and death are soon to follow (Matthew 24:9, 15-22).

It is time for every man to decide where he will stand--there is no middle ground!  Either you will stand with the Lord Jesus Christ, His will, way and Word or you will stay with the world organizing against Him (Matthew 12:30).  Choose well, it will mean eternal life or death.