Unite

Seems we're in a time where so many things are splintering. Yet, just as there is so much division-driven commentary, there's also determined solidarity. The voice of Peace and Unity is loud and strong...but it is right?

What?
The Bible does talk about how good and pleasant it is for the 'brethren' to dwell together in unity (Psalms 133:1)
However, my question is this: Is it possible to be unified, and still wrong?

Here's another one of those moments where I think our perceptions need to be challenged. Through no malicious intent of our own, biblical accounts produce pictures in our minds that can end up 'shading' the truth.
Think about the story of the tower of Babel:
Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
If you've seen John Huston's "The Bible" with Stephen Boyd as Nimrod, it's probably easier to see these people as ugly, scowling and therefore evil, defiant and antagonistic towards God, but what if they didn't look like that at all? What if they were pleasant, giving and a peace-loving people?
    It's important to see the downside of inadvertently encapsulating ideas with imagery - it moves things far from us. Far from the likelihood that these people were a lot like us with many of the same tendencies.

Our "instant" world draws lines quickly. Something provocative is said and seconds later, it's gone viral and garners just as many advocates as the number of people it offends and ostracizes. It's also not uncommon for a "Christian" voice to try and biblically support either side presented by the issue.

However, my question is this: Who is on The Lord's side?

Here's The Word:

Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

In this situation, you would think that EVERYONE would just stop what they're doing and give ear to Moses. Nope, just the Levites.
The people believed Moses had probably died while talking to God. Aaron helped in their wishes to 'produce' another god which they all contributed their gold jewelry to create. Moses shows up with the first set of stone tablets fresh from the Hand of God, sees the worship service in progress and loses it! He smashes the tablets AND their golden calf god.
Then, after the sons of Levi joined with Moses, they took up swords and killed 3000 of their fellow Israelites.

The next day, Moses went to apologize. Not to the Israelites, but to God to atone for the sin of Idolatry committed by the people.

See where this is going? You can absolutely have the most people siding with you, doing what you think is right and be absolutely WRONG in the eyes of God. Why? because there are things that God hates and no amount of unity will change that.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

The thing that trips us up is our expectation of evil. We expect evil to look the part but Biblically, it seems that evil is better at masquerading itself, than our ability to detect it. So many are going against God's statutes, fighting hate with hate, returning evil for evil. It's time to be careful about the things we get caught up in; The band-wagon jumping and blindly following the crowd you're used to. We need to ask the important questions: What saith The Lord? The assumptions are prevalent on both (or all) sides that "God agrees with us"...but does He? Unity is wonderful, but NEVER at the cost of idolatry. Peace is a worth-while endeavor, but NOT at the cost of turning a blind-eye to sin. There's even an ecumenical movement gaining momentum trying to navigate social issues but are they "Godly" issues. Are we honoring God with our lips without realizing how far our hearts are from Him? (Matthew 15:8-9)

Psalm 139:21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Things are so splintered and polarized that I'm sure the only thing that will bring peace is The Prince of Peace Himself. However, until that day, let's keep our eyes open and prayers to Heaven that we would have wisdom in these times. It may be possible that there is no truly, RIGHT side to choose. In that case, for Christians, our marching orders haven't changed: Preach the word, in and out of season. Watch, endure and do the work (2 Timothy 4).

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Choose that, and no matter what the masses are doing, even if they hate you - You've united yourself to the right side!

In Him,
Cros