Unite for Christ

If you study the American Civil War, you will see there are many reasons why the Union defeated the Confederacy. The Union had superior numbers, superior technology, and factories that produced plenty of ammunition and uniforms and supplies the army needed.

However, one reason that is often overlooked is the unity of the United States of America. The USA, under the Constitution, has a very strong central government. It's part of what started the war to begin with. As a government, the USA has the ability to collect taxes, enforce states to obey federal law, and use those things to supply the government and the army.

The Confederate States of America did not. Fearful of what the USA was, the CSA created a weak central government. As a confederacy of states, the states held all the power while the central government simply did the will of the states. As such, the CSA did not have the ability to collect taxes effectively, enforce states to obey federal law, or force states to supply material and men for the army.

When the war grew long, the USA had the strength in unity to provide men and material because of their strong central government. The CSA struggled, as the army remained underfed, undersupplied, and undermanned. They didn't have the ability to force Tennessee, as an example, to provide additional money for the war effort.

Because of this disunity, along with other factors, the CSA lost the American Civil War. The Union prevail because of the unity they had.

Jesus, in John 17, prays for his disciples. He prays for the 12 men who followed him for three years. He also prayed for all the disciples that would come after them. He was confident these men would successfully spread the Gospel of Jesus.

In his prayer, he prays for unity. He wants them, and us, to be unified by the Holy Spirit. Just as God the Father and God the Son are one with the Holy Spirit. We are one with God the Father and God the Son, through God the Holy Spirit. All believers have the Holy Spirit, so we can all achieve the will of God through the unity we have with him.

God wants us to be unified. It's why our current environment is so sad. When the world most needs Christians united, we are the least united we've ever been. As Christians, we need to unite for the sole purpose of spreading the message of Jesus. It is why were are saved. That doesn't mean we compromise doctrine. The Trinity, resurrection, sanctification, and justification by grace alone are core doctrinal stances we cannot compromise. But for those who agree with those doctrines, we must unite arm in arm to advance the Gospel.

It's what Jesus wanted.

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