Unity in a local church is difficult, in fact it’s nearly impossible without supernatural help. Bringing together people of different generations with different backgrounds is a recipe for frustration, conflicting opinions, and unmet expectations.
To illustrate how believers edify one another, Scripture uses the picture of iron sharpening iron, which is not a delicate process. Two pieces are scraped together and the friction grinds away imperfections and sharpens the edge of the blade. The friction is the very thing that’s necessary in the process, and to avoid it is to avoid the sharpening.
Don’t Neglect the Sharpening Process
As we meet and serve together in a local church setting, differing opinions will often reveal themselves. We may disagree on music style or what color the carpet should be in the remodel. Perhaps the issues are more substantive and deal with specific teaching or character issues. This can create situations where there is tension, and the conversations can be passionate. Since most people don’t like “drama” or “fighting,” many respond to these inevitable moments by withdrawing and determining that being a part of a local church is too difficult. It’s much easier to avoid the friction by staying home and worshipping God in our living room with a Spotify playlist and an open Bible.
While staying home is certainly easier, we are avoiding one of the means of grace the Lord uses to edify us and sharpen our dull edges. It’s convenient to avoid friction, but it’s only in the friction that we are forced to listen to others we may disagree with and communicate our views with grace and love. Working closely with others forces me to die to myself, consider others more important than myself, and learn to love when it’s not easy. Working through issues in the presence of real people that you know and love provides opportunities for growth and understanding that we all need.
This doesn’t mean we disregard our beliefs and opinions, and it doesn’t mean we compromise in an unhealthy way to make “peace.” However, being forced to defend our position often leads us to deeper study and clearer communication. Many of the great expressions of the faith throughout history were birthed out of conversations and controversy where the church was forced to speak clearly against false teaching.
Uncomfortable Spiritual Growth
Striving for unity among the church family is difficult and will take supernatural patience and strength. Putting yourself in situations that force discomfort and self-denial is counter to our natural way of thinking, so we naturally seek to avoid such situations. However, these situations provide a unique opportunity to grow in godliness.
We all have rough edges. We all have areas where we need to be sharpened. We are often blind to what these things are, but living and serving alongside church family will often highlight such shortcomings. But if we neglect this means of grace, then we bypass the process God has provided for us to grow. It might be easier, but we avoid the friction that is necessary to sharpen us.
