Shine Like Stars (6): Church Unity

Christian disunity has always been disastrous. But the toll of infighting was softened when the church enjoyed the blessing of culture. Today, more than ever, the church is under a microscope. And critics are eager to pounce on discord as grounds to discount the church's relevance.

Christians should shine like stars as a loving, thriving family "holding fast to the word of life" (Phil. 2:16) "in a dying culture." But we have more challenges than ever. We are being groomed by social media to huddle together with those who most radically agree with us and reject those outside of our self-curated echo chambers. As life becomes increasingly politicized and polarized Christians will find it more natural to fragment into affinity groups and, like our politicians, violently turn on each other when our views clash.

Disunity among believers is dishonoring to God, disruptive to our mission, and discouraging to our souls. We need to recover the vision for "one single catholic or universal church … joined and united in heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith" (BC 27).