Unity in the Midst of Disagreement
Every church, family, and group of friends faces disagreements. It's part of life. Today at church, the debate was about the Christmas tree. Some believe it has no place on the altar, seeing it as a modern-day Asherah pole. Others want it to stay, viewing it as a symbol of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
Here’s the deeper question: Are we holding onto something so tightly that it’s becoming more important than our love for one another? Are we clinging to traditions, symbols, or opinions in a way that blinds us to Christ’s call to unity?
Romans 14:1-12 reminds us to welcome one another without quarreling over opinions. Each of us stands or falls before the Lord, not before one another. Verse 8 says, "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's."
So, what do we do about this debacle? Do we stay stubbornly tied to our personal traditions, or do we serve one another in brotherly and sisterly love? Scripture points us to the latter. Serving one another means we listen with humility, let go of pride, and prioritize relationships over rituals.
Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Let’s not let anything—not even well-meaning traditions—become more important than the love we’re called to show.
Let’s step back, seek God together, and ask, “What honors Him the most—not just in appearance, but in our hearts?”
Whether the tree stays or goes, our unity in Christ is what truly matters. Let’s choose love over division, and let our actions reflect the One we’re all striving to serve.
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