Christ came to end division, however, in these days, there is a great divide, not just among the races and ethnicities but it’s even prevalent in our churches.
We have become construction workers building walls between
them and us; whomever the “them” may be.
Can you imagine, thousands of years ago, Apostle Paul dealt
with that same issue?
In his letter to the church in Ephesus, referring to the
division between Jews and Gentiles, he wrote…
We were separated by a wall
of hate that stood between us, but Christ broke down that wall. By giving his
own body – Ephesians 2:14 (ERV)
The apostle explained that through the Cross, the wall of
separation had been destroyed. Even his fellow apostles were hesitant to accept
this truth but after some time and much persuasion by Paul, they believed.
Unfortunately, in this modern day, walls are still being erected
in churches. There are individuals and cliques at loggerheads with other persons
and other groups within the church, unable to reconcile their differences as if
the Word of God isn’t filled with ways to do so.
In Paul’s day, the Jews, who once called themselves “the
circumcised”, and those whom they condescendingly referred to as “uncircumcised”,
meaning the Gentiles, had become visibly one in Christ Jesus, yet today, we who
call ourselves followers of Christ can’t get our Christian-act together.
There is a whole bible filled with text that we can refer to
and learn from.
How can we sincerely fellowship together (see 1 John 1:6-7),
be in one accord (see Acts 1:14) and maintain
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3) if
walls of separation remain?
Beloved, understand that Jesus has broken down the wall,
that is, the hostility between us. Understand that we are members of one
Church, the Church of Jesus Christ; we are one Body but if we cannot apprehend
this truth on a personal level, there will always be a great divide.
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “A Great Divide” © 2026 August 6, 2026
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