Disunity starts with the convinced tribe

There is a massive, and significant, difference between disagreement and disunity in a church.

Numbers.

If I disagree with the leadership of my church - about anything - then I have the option of how to deal with that issue. Ideally, it would be handled in a mature way such as having an open and honest conversation, deciding that this issue is something you can live with/overlook or, over important enough issues, you may choose to leave with grace and goodwill.

But disunity - an ecclesiastical sin peppering the New Testament - is a different beast to disagreement. For, you sow and grow disunity when you start to gather a group.

Say, for example, that you disagree with the length of the sermons at your church. Disunity develops when you unhelpfully share your opinion with others and have them join your cause. By rallying a group together, this gives disunity a foothold.

So, the next time you want to vent about a gripe you have in church, just be careful that you’re not plunging in the planks of disunity which will ultimately splinter a church.