snithers

A symposium presented at Agape Baptist Church Rumuolumeni,
at the Baptist Youths for Christ YOUTH WEEK CELEBRATION 2018,
 5th June 2018.
By TONYE S. Snithers

Topic: DISUNITY: CAUSES AND REMEDIES

INTRODUCTION
In all of God’s creations, mankind has been and is seen as the highest of all created things. This is so because they are formed in the image of God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Meanwhile, the power of dominion (RULERSHIP) over the earth was handed down to man by God, and until the fall of mankind, man remains the ruler over all created things apart from his fellow man. The Bible said in Genesis 1:26-30
26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female.
28 God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."
29 Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food.
30 To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was.(MSG)
These verses of the scripture show how valuable and high placed we are in God’s presence. (1) in the image of God we were created… (2) likeness of the heavenly bodies we were formed… (3) Power of Dominion or to rule over… (4) and we were not made to work/walk alone
In as much as God is the owner of mankind, only God Has the sole authority to rule over man, and not man ruling over mankind, but He (God) made them to lead one another and to rule over things together. And this is the crux of the matter, where disunity came into existence in the human life.
In my research for the purpose of this very study, I came to a shocking discovery to me anyway, but I guess it will do same to you, that these two words “RULERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP” are most times used interchangeably. Which ordinarily cannot be or used as to compare themselves.
RULERSHIP: is ownership, (and let them have dominion over…Gen.1: 26b (dominion over what?) )you can do whatever  you choose to do with your own property, you also have sovereignty, and sovereignty has no need for any external influence on it. It does not need any help from anyone, it chooses to do what it wants.
LEADERSHIP: is stewardship, (It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet … Gen. 2:18b(this means one need to lead the other) ) you have an account to render to a supreme authority or the owner, leadership is helping one another. You cannot just do what  you like with what is kept with you to care for, you only have to guide it from being misplaced, misused or .
Therefore, what we have here to discuss which is “DISUNITY” started when man began to play God over his fellow humans, and disunity is mostly found between man to man and man to God. like Jesus said, in Matt. 20:25
 “… You know that the rulers… lord it over them…” (KJV)
other version puts it this way
“ …You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads.(MSG)
"… Among the heathen, kings are tyrants and each minor official lords it over those beneath him.(TLB)
“… You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].(AMP)
We will also talk about the common causes and some remedies to this effect, as the scripture will help us through to finding a lasting truth.

Definition

Disunity has two words, which made it what it is or formed it, and they are
 DIS – which shows lack of respect for something or someone. Secondly, it is a prefix to other words.
While, UNITY: is oneness, union, companion, unitedness, wholeness etc.
DISUNITY: is a lack of agreement among people, which prevents them from working together effectively – Collins Dic.
According to Webster, it is a lack of unity.

For me disunity is the untying of the oneness of individuals, group, family, cooperation, community(ies), working in unity for a specific gaol.

Other words for disunity includes; strife, division, discord, disaccord, conflict, etc

Related words are; clash, competition, fight, quarrel, fall-out etc.
Moreover, these words so related to disunity are all negative in expression which are not in line with any Christian or Christ-like virtues. Therefore should be totally avoided in the midst of all believers.

CAUSES OF DISUNITY

The causatives of disunity among men to men and men to God are too numerous, but below are some which few will be discussed; Knowledge, Pride, Selfishness, Boastfulness, Jealousy, Power, Anger, Unfaithfulness, Neglect, Betrayal, Quarrelling, Envy, etc. Among these so listed, three will be discuss for the purpose of this study.

1. Knowledge: this could be used positively or negatively. In Gen. 3:5,6, this caused mankind to disunite with God. Man saw God in a different light instead (cff Ecc. 1:18) of keeping with what God has shown him. In the same vain Paul was reprimanding the Corinthian Church (cff 1cor. 12:11-13), not because they have come to the understanding of their different gifts. We ought to know they were gift from one spirit for one body of Christ and for His Church.

2. Pride: This is a strong instrument that brings down anyone who operates on it, the scripture warns severally (cff Prov. 13:10a, Prov.16:18, Prov. 11:2) on the issue of pride. Having Knowledge on a thing does not give the privileged to arrogance in nature and if it one continue in pride it will drive people around this person to feel oppressed and rebel against Him/ Her.  As identified by Paul concerning the Corinthian Church in 1Cor. 12:15-21, the scripture is still warning every Christian to shun pride, it will never do any good to the body of Christ the church.

3. Neglect: as its meaning will say abandonment, here Paul guided Christians not to neglect others working with us the body of Christ. His expression was to inform believers that none is more important to the other…1 Cor 12:22-28
 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.NLT
As church we cannot function properly if we don’t have those who are praying for the church, we cannot grow if people do not go for evangelism, we cannot build if someone refuse to contribute to the church. We all need one another to stand for the church of Christ Jesus.

REMEDIES:
1. Knowledge: the Bible is saying, Prov 24:3-4
3 It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
4 It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.(MSG)
If knowledge can help one furnish his or her room and make beautiful for others to admire, then it can help us to maintain unity in our church, families, cooperation and in our communities.

2. Love: To eliminate disunity, love must be paramount, it must be practical (Hos 10:12a). Since we are many parts but seen as one body in Christ, it then mean we all have an obligation to carry out unto one another, that is to love ourselves. And this is very possible when we submit to ourselves out respect for Christ (Eph 3:12).

3. Truth: is expel fear and promotes oneness,(Eph5:24), the moment truth is taken away from a marriage relationship, suspicion sets in, it will be followed by quarrel and fight, the next moment is divorce. This is like Jesus saying, in John 14:1 “let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” With this statement and more, we believers has got strong hope of His coming

Conclusion
Ps 1:1-3  Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 But his delight is in Yahweh's law;
On his law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.
WEB. Here lies the cause and the remedies to disunity in humans life.