I'm right, you're wrong

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment --1 Corinthians 1:10

 I have now lived on this earth for almost 82 years. Over the course of those years there has never been a time when our brotherhood has spoken the same thing with no division among us. Never been a time when members of the Lord's church worldwide have been perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment. I don't know when or how it all really began but I do know that it doesn't matter what the issue is about, division between members of the Lord's church locally or worldwide is contrary to God's will  (John 17:20-23).

One cup versus many cups, churches cooperating with each other in an endeavor, support of orphan homes out of the church treasury were the major issues as I grew up. Over the years many other issues have been introduced to further divide God's people. Changes in the worship service, traditional versus contemporary, the introduction of mechanical instruments of music as well as the role of women.  Members of the Lord's church are labeled with terms such as liberal or conservative, institutional or non institutional depending upon which side of an issue they are on. My friends, I don't care who you are, where you are from or where you now live, all these things that divide us are sinful  because they have and do now cause the church to become the object of contempt, scorn and derision. These divisive issues are spots, blemishes that bring reproach upon the Lord's church. Often they cause those who should be brethren to not even fellowship each other. We should be a people united in all things,  in one accord, speaking the truth with each other in a sweet, sweet spirit of love for each other (Psalms 122:1, 1 Pet. 1:22). There should be no bitterness, wrath or anger within the brotherhood (Eph. 4:31-32). We should be united, engaged in a fervent effort to make the Lord's church a glorious church. I confess that I don't know how to remove all the division from among us. since this spirit of division has been allowed to exist within the brotherhood for eons of time. I do believe that there are three root causes of division: (1) personal opinions, (2) selfishness, and (3) believing something to be true because of blind loyalty to a man or group of men and having said this, understand it is not my intent to cast doubt on the integrity or honesty of anyone past or present. With a heavy heart, I wonder if perhaps we haven't come to accept the division that exists in our brotherhood with the attitude, "I'm right, you're wrong".  We are brethren, division among us is wrong and it should not be! 

"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing"--Philippians 3:16.'

Charles Hicks