My fellow Christians, why are we divided? Do we not all believe that Jesus is the Messiah? Do we not all have access to the same Bibles? Do we not all know the Apostles’ Creed? Do we not all read the words of Jesus and the Apostles? Why are these things not enough to keep us united in spiritual battle? What do we lack? Why are we not “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” as Paul admonished us to be?
We lack that which transforms a great horde into a well-oiled, disciplined, effective army: allegiance to a central chain of command. We also lack the holiness that comes from being disciplined and united. How can we preach holiness while maintaining division? The two are not compatible. A divided army simply does not fight well. Holiness is what we use to wage spiritual warfare. Division is not holy. Our lips profess allegiance to Christ, but our actions show division, contention and strife.
When will we learn that Jesus established a visible Church hierarchy, a chain of command for all Christians to follow and be accountable to? We cannot be united while preaching and teaching different doctrines. We cannot be united while following leaders that oppose each other. When will we learn that unity requires humility and the swallowing of pride? Soldiers must learn to follow orders that they may not agree with or fully understand. When will we learn that we cannot worship wherever and however we want? Worship cannot be invented by us. Christian worship has been instituted by Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. We cannot effectively function as different parts of the same Body if we are not fully united to that Body. When will we learn that being Christian is not about choosing one’s preferences from a smorgasbord of doctrinal options, but about being obedient to the Faith? One Lord, one Faith, one baptism.
When will we learn that genuine Christian unity will elude us until we reverse the perpetual, explosive trend of protest and division and return to the central command of Peter’s chair?
Rom 16:17, 1Cor 1:10, 1Cor 3:3, 1Cor 11:18, Matt 16:18
The Reflective Revert 
Sadly, the Tower of Babel even grows within the Catholic Church: conservatives vs liberals, pro-life vs pro-abortion, Novus Ordo vs Vetus Ordo, etc. But, as you indicate, obedience overcomes relativism. God bless!
Indeed. My thoughts were with all Christians, Catholics included, while writing this post.
A very good point you stated, here, Thomas. I think nowadays a lot of Christians, my generation especially, are divided because they have come to think of Christianity as more about focusing on themselves and less about Jesus.
Thank you. I agree. That challenges all of us.
Reblogged this on Midnight Lumen and commented:
Must be in the air… The Reflective Revert just posted on the same topic. Nice essay.