There is a push for humanity to unite for the sake of peace during these troubling times that we live in. It is a push that forsakes faith and forsakes one’s loyalty to Jesus Christ in many respects. How do we as believers in Jesus Christ respond to these humanism movements and is it wise for us to jump on the bandwagon?

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
(Luke 12:49-53 - ESV)

It is important for us to first understand that contrary to what some people may believe about Jesus’ intention when He was on the earth, it was not to establish world peace. In fact He recognized that there would be a divide between people who were Christians (those who actually follow Him) and those who were not (unbelievers). This division would not only exist in the world as we have seen throughout history but even among family and friends.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,  and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
(Revelation 21:1-4 - ESV)

This portion of scripture takes place after the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20. And it is after the new heaven and the new earth are created that God will put an end to suffering, to sorrow, to pain and to death. This is talking about the things that are to take place after the return of Jesus Christ. But until then, there will be no end to suffering and chaos in the world. These attempts by man to do so will only result in Christians compromising in their loyalty to Jesus as they validate other faiths as being equal truths and even fall away from the faith themselves.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(Matthew 7:13-14 - ESV)

Are we willing to be among the few that will enter through the narrow gate, being Jesus Christ? Are we willing to take up our crosses daily as Jesus tells us to do in Luke 9? And lastly, would the Christians we read about from the early churches in the Bible be willing to join forces with the world for the pursuit of worldly peace at the expense of the truth? These are questions each of us needs to answer. Our unity is supposed to be with Jesus, first and foremost. And if that isn’t our foundation, then how can we go around thinking we are true Christians?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
(1 John 2:15-17 - ESV)

Are we following Christ or are we so in love with this world that we are trying to preserve something that the Bible says will pass away in exchange for something better? How have we convinced ourselves that our worldly pursuits just happen to always be in alignment to what God really wants because we have a “feeling” about it? Is there not a proverb that tell us that there is a way that seems right to a man but the result of that way is death and destruction? Do we heed what God’s word really says here:

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-16 - ESV)

Are we willing to believe what God’s word says about being in spiritual unity with unbelievers or will we ignore its warnings? And not are you not only supposed to not align ourselves with unbelievers but also professing Christians who are unrepentant in their sins. Remember the instructions Paul gave the Corinthian church due to them not taking seriously the fact that a man had committed adultery with his father’s wife? This took place among professing Christians and this is what Paul had to say:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
(1 Corinthians 5:1-5 - ESV)

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(1 Corinthians 5:9-13 - ESV)

Believers in Jesus are to hold themselves to a higher standard to that of the world and we are not only supposed to not be yoked with unbelievers but also those unrepentant professing believers. It’s no different than during instances in the Old Testament when God commanded the Israelites at times to purge the evil from their own camp. Today, we aren’t called to kill others but we are called to disfellowship when it is necessary.

We must understand that who we unify ourselves with is a very big deal and has significant implications. It is not okay to be yoked with unbelievers and unrepentant “professing” believers. And this includes coming out of these churches who are headed by people who continually bear false witness and persuade you to support their lavish lifestyles.

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