When I was saved in August of 2002, I was united with a small church that became family, and it was like heaven on earth. Since then, I have become acquainted with many other church groups throughout both western Canada and central USA. One thing which stands clear in my mind, is division within the church and lack of unity as a result. Doctrine may change from one church to the next but there are a few things that never change. Within the fundamentals to the Christian faith lays the key to unity, and if practiced will bring much success. Most all Christians agree that God is all knowing, perfect and never changes. That includes the Bible, which is the Word of God. I insist that there can be no unity outside of the Holy Bible! Within the Bible are all the answers to life's problems and at its core is the gospel. Within the gospel there is a fundamental element that I believe is the key to harmony, and ultimately unity in the family of God.

The Holy Bible is the most popular and best selling book in the entire world, and it's also the most miss-understood book. With so many miss-interpretations some people have a hard time understanding it, not every interpretation is accurate. With over six thousand years of history and many authors there is one thing that makes the Bible special, this book was God breathed. Without faith, study and the Holy Spirit a full understanding is not possible. No amount of theological reasoning and theory can understand the mind of God. The Holy Spirit who happens to be invisible and a member of God in the Holy Trinity inspired man to write the words written in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). Everything we need to know about life is within its pages and it is foundational to the Christian faith. I have written on the front of my Bible"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth".

So what is this basic knowledge within the Bible? Inside the Bible there is one story that was written four times, and they are known as the Gospels; meaning good news. Contained in the Gospels are four books written by different authors Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the most important books because they hold the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is the king of kings and lord of lords, savoir of mankind, and heart of the good news. Without faith in Jesus Christ we can't come to know God or the key to unity. The Gospel can be summed up in the classic verse, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16NIV). The four main characteristics of this message are, first that God loves the world. Second, God sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth. Third, we must have faith in His Son Jesus Christ, what He said and did. Fourth, we will never die but live forever. In order for unity to take place in the Kingdom of God Jesus must be the center of our lives. Acts 4:10-12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Every evangelical church in the world is centered on Jesus Christ and there is still division so what is missing?

I believe there is one part of the gospel that so many Christians overlook, and it is that God "loved" the world. Without God's love we are doomed to eternal separation from God. Without God's love Christ would not have died for us, and we would be hopeless. As Christians we owe are entire lives to the savoir of our soul. I'm not suggesting that we taking it for granted but just as God has loved us we must return the love. Jesus said in the book of Mathew that love is the greatest commandment in the whole Bible! "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) Love is so much more important than doctrine. I'm not saying that doctrine is not important but that love is the very heart of God. If we truly love God with all our heart, mind, and soul; and our neighbor as ourselves would we still have so many divisions in the Body of Christ?

Who are we as believers in Jesus? If we turn to the book of (1John 4:15&16) it reads, "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." According to Apostle John true love can only come from God! As we put our trust in God, it's God's love that is poured through us. If we go a little further in that same passage of scripture it says, "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (verse 19-21).

What is love and why is it so important? I looked up the word love in the Webster's New World Dictionary and one of the definitions were, "God's tender regard and concern for all human beings. Devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good, that all human beings have". That's an interesting way to put it. In fact it is our natural tendency to seek love. From the moment we are born there is nothing a child needs more than love, and it continues for the rest of our lives. Brian Tracy a master achiever of excellence and author of the program Psychology of Achievement said that, "Everything we do in life is to get love or compensate for it! The only problem is that people don't know it and many don't know what real love is. God is true love and Jesus fully walked it out on earth about two thousand years ago. Apostle Paul describes the importance of love in a letter to the Corinthians, and describes its characteristics well.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS". (1Corinthins 13:2-7).

Strong words familiar to most believers and absent from most people and our culture today. To start with one part of that passage, love is not self-seeking. One of my favorite pastors Tommy Barnett who pastors the Phoenix first Assembly of God in Arizona said in one of his sermons, "The root problem in every argument and relationship issue is self-centeredness". Surely this must be the chef sin. Could it be that the relationship between many churches is the result of self-centeredness? Or perhaps it's pride? In that passage it also says that love is not proud, that would mean that love would have to be humble. Three thousand years ago Moses the most humble man of his day with God united six hundred thousand men besides women and children out of Egypt and pharos bondage. Because the people complained, had lack of faith, and did not love God back in return. All but a select few died before they entered the Promised Land. Perhaps it's the complaining and proud-full hearts today that limits us from unity? Just how much of the church today falls under any of the following category's of being impatient, rude, envious, prideful, and self-centered. Likewise I am sure that gossip must also fit into these destructive categories' that cause division in the church. These are all things that love is not according to God. I have a bumper sticker that reads. "What wisdom can you find that is greater then kindness? But what it is really saying is what wisdom can you find that is greater than love? Love is the heart of God, and His heart is for the people to be unified.

Love is what holds the world together, and history speaks for itself. There was a great deal of love in the early church. The Apostles and new converts loved all brothers and sisters, and to the extent that they even shared all their possessions (Acts 4:32-35). In a materialistic world this would truly be a challenge. How great it would be if all Christians completely surrendered everything to God. As sons and daughters of God we must practice love. How great it would be if believers truly loved one another, and it became a general practice held with great importance to all the followers of Christ. To this much wisdom is needed to our leaders, and more people should focus on unity in the church. I have made it my passion to do my part.

In finale to bring unity to the church keep in mind that it's absolutely essential to know there can be no salvation or acceptance into God's family outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible is the Word of God and is our absolute written authority. God is love, and love is the missing link to unity in the family of God. When confronted in brotherly love, many divisions in the church will be defeated and believers will be united, as we praise God together. To love is the greatest act of God. I am confident that if we truly loved God and our fellow brethren, local churches would be working with each other instead of having independent groups. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34&45).

Lord Jesus I pray for more love in my life and in the lives of believers today. For more love to the person reading this article, and that the church will be united in love. Thank you Lord for your great love, your perfect love as described in first Corinthians thirteen. I pray Lord to abide in your love forever and ever in Jesus name, Amen!