The NEED FOR UNITY
Bro. Lanre Daniel YS
TOPIC
Peace Love and Unity as CHRISTIANS
TERMS
*Peace* (Alaafia): Freedom from disturbance; tranquillity. A situation where and when there is no war.
*Love* (Ife): An intense feeling of deep affection for someone or something
*Unity* (Isokan): The state of being united or joined as a whole.
It is safe to say these three works hand in hand and without one the other cannot function. Without Love, there is no Peace and without Peace there can't be Unity.
The absence of these three great qualities brings about strife, hatred, setback, rebellion the list of the negative effect is endless.
God made everybody different with different roles, and these differences make the body of Christ beautiful. The eye needs the hand, and the hand needs the feet. We give honor to the hidden parts like the heart and liver (1 Cor 12:23). Unity and love does not mean that everybody is the same but that we honor our differences and work together despite our differences.
In CCC our major aim is to worship, which is undoubtedly the reason for all human existence. It is clearly stated to us in our CCCHYMN 773 the major impacts peace, love and unity has in our worships, pleasing God and our daily activities.
CAUSES OF STRIFE AMONGST TODAY'S CCC YOUTHS
GOSSIP
Some people actually have degree in this and will spend their last kobo in making sure they reach out to all their partners whenever their is a new gist even if they can't afford to pay their offering and tithe in Church.
NOTE: What you can't say in the presence of someone, when said behind them is called GOSSIP.
Women are certainly not the only ones who have been found guilty of gossip. Anyone can engage in gossip simply by repeating something heard in confidence. The book of Proverbs has a long list of verses that cover the dangers of gossip and the potential hurt that results from it. “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13)
The Bible tells us that “a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28). Many a friendship has been ruined over a misunderstanding that started with gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up trouble and cause anger, bitterness, and pain among friends. Sadly, some people thrive on this and look for opportunities to destroy others. And when such people are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with excuses and rationalizations. Rather than admit wrongdoing, they blame someone else or attempt to minimize the seriousness of the sin. “A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:7-8).
Those who guard their tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). So we must guard our tongues and refrain from the sinful act of gossip. If we surrender our natural desires to the Lord, He will help us to remain righteous. May we all follow the Bible’s teaching on gossip by keeping our mouths shut unless it is necessary and appropriate to speak.
JUDGING ONE ANOTHER
Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Must we be perfect? YES, God wants us to! But are we there yet? NO!
Our duty to a fellow brother and sister is to correct them with LOVE when we see them erring not to make a case out of their wrongdoing. *onikaluku a bi tie lara*
If we say the elders are wrong, are we doing it right? What we see everyday on our CCC social media platforms (whatsapp groups, blogs etc) are pictures and videos of something someone did that is wrong where everyone will contribute their own share of abuses, curses and so on. What we need in this generation is corrections of what has been going on wrongly but you cannot correct people in their absence, when they see or hear what you've done to their names and personality in their absence it will create more strife and division which is not the purpose of Christ for His church. Be bold to confront people and correct them not judging cowardly behind them.
COMPETITION
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.-Romans 12:3.
One of the challenges Christians around the world face is competition in the body of the Christ. People are competing for leadership positions and relevance.
In today's Christianity, we see a large rate of unhealthy competition and comparisons (even whatsapp groups are now competing which is busiest and which is best). It would have been a great thing if only we can put the same zeal into the aim and objective of our various platforms and organizations and not using the zeal to bring others down, create chaos all in the name of being relevance. The fact is not everyone is called to lead, God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies who He calls. You may be better or more qualified than the person leading you, all you should do is put them through and give them counsels not trying to compete for their place or make mockery of their mistakes.
EFFECTS
Like I said earlier, the absence of Peace, Love and Unity brings about strife, rebellion, back bites and so on. So all these negative effects does nothing but causes series of SETBACKS to us as a group, organization, church and individual.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love 1John4:8
If God is love, definitely He will not be present wherever there is no love and without God, can our prayers be answered, without answered prayers can there be progress? NO!
Nobody wins when the family feud. When we are not at peace with each others, we all lose, we may be acting as if we a winning or pretending to be OK by planting our losses under our fake smiles just to intimidate the other party but definitely when we are not LOVERS we are LOSERS....
Let us come back, bury our griefs, sort things out between us and get back on track. We cannot be divided against ourselves and say we want to cleanse the world.
God bless us all
Lanre Daniel YS
TOPIC
Peace Love and Unity as CHRISTIANS
TERMS
*Peace* (Alaafia): Freedom from disturbance; tranquillity. A situation where and when there is no war.
*Love* (Ife): An intense feeling of deep affection for someone or something
*Unity* (Isokan): The state of being united or joined as a whole.
It is safe to say these three works hand in hand and without one the other cannot function. Without Love, there is no Peace and without Peace there can't be Unity.
The absence of these three great qualities brings about strife, hatred, setback, rebellion the list of the negative effect is endless.
God made everybody different with different roles, and these differences make the body of Christ beautiful. The eye needs the hand, and the hand needs the feet. We give honor to the hidden parts like the heart and liver (1 Cor 12:23). Unity and love does not mean that everybody is the same but that we honor our differences and work together despite our differences.
In CCC our major aim is to worship, which is undoubtedly the reason for all human existence. It is clearly stated to us in our CCCHYMN 773 the major impacts peace, love and unity has in our worships, pleasing God and our daily activities.
CAUSES OF STRIFE AMONGST TODAY'S CCC YOUTHS
GOSSIP
Some people actually have degree in this and will spend their last kobo in making sure they reach out to all their partners whenever their is a new gist even if they can't afford to pay their offering and tithe in Church.
NOTE: What you can't say in the presence of someone, when said behind them is called GOSSIP.
Women are certainly not the only ones who have been found guilty of gossip. Anyone can engage in gossip simply by repeating something heard in confidence. The book of Proverbs has a long list of verses that cover the dangers of gossip and the potential hurt that results from it. “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13)
The Bible tells us that “a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28). Many a friendship has been ruined over a misunderstanding that started with gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up trouble and cause anger, bitterness, and pain among friends. Sadly, some people thrive on this and look for opportunities to destroy others. And when such people are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with excuses and rationalizations. Rather than admit wrongdoing, they blame someone else or attempt to minimize the seriousness of the sin. “A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:7-8).
Those who guard their tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). So we must guard our tongues and refrain from the sinful act of gossip. If we surrender our natural desires to the Lord, He will help us to remain righteous. May we all follow the Bible’s teaching on gossip by keeping our mouths shut unless it is necessary and appropriate to speak.
JUDGING ONE ANOTHER
Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Must we be perfect? YES, God wants us to! But are we there yet? NO!
Our duty to a fellow brother and sister is to correct them with LOVE when we see them erring not to make a case out of their wrongdoing. *onikaluku a bi tie lara*
If we say the elders are wrong, are we doing it right? What we see everyday on our CCC social media platforms (whatsapp groups, blogs etc) are pictures and videos of something someone did that is wrong where everyone will contribute their own share of abuses, curses and so on. What we need in this generation is corrections of what has been going on wrongly but you cannot correct people in their absence, when they see or hear what you've done to their names and personality in their absence it will create more strife and division which is not the purpose of Christ for His church. Be bold to confront people and correct them not judging cowardly behind them.
COMPETITION
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.-Romans 12:3.
One of the challenges Christians around the world face is competition in the body of the Christ. People are competing for leadership positions and relevance.
In today's Christianity, we see a large rate of unhealthy competition and comparisons (even whatsapp groups are now competing which is busiest and which is best). It would have been a great thing if only we can put the same zeal into the aim and objective of our various platforms and organizations and not using the zeal to bring others down, create chaos all in the name of being relevance. The fact is not everyone is called to lead, God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies who He calls. You may be better or more qualified than the person leading you, all you should do is put them through and give them counsels not trying to compete for their place or make mockery of their mistakes.
EFFECTS
Like I said earlier, the absence of Peace, Love and Unity brings about strife, rebellion, back bites and so on. So all these negative effects does nothing but causes series of SETBACKS to us as a group, organization, church and individual.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love 1John4:8
If God is love, definitely He will not be present wherever there is no love and without God, can our prayers be answered, without answered prayers can there be progress? NO!
Nobody wins when the family feud. When we are not at peace with each others, we all lose, we may be acting as if we a winning or pretending to be OK by planting our losses under our fake smiles just to intimidate the other party but definitely when we are not LOVERS we are LOSERS....
Let us come back, bury our griefs, sort things out between us and get back on track. We cannot be divided against ourselves and say we want to cleanse the world.
God bless us all
Lanre Daniel YS
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