Social, economic, religious and political divisions develop when people do not love, respect and accept one another the way they want and deserve to be loved, respected and accepted. More importantly, attitudes and behaviors toward one another are not up to God’s standards for loving your neighbor. This is the root cause of division and the obstacle to unity in all relationships.

Divisions begin as envy, pride, boasting, anger, self-serving, unforgiveness, delighting in evil, dishonoring others, favoritism and partiality in intimate relationships. Eventually, these unresolved offenses spread like cancer throughout communities, nations and the world. This happens because most people are totally ignorant of what Godly love is or how to practice it – despite their sincere love for one another with human love.

God’s solution for division are very clear: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. This is how he creates unity out of division.

God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself has always been his prescription for diversity, equity, inclusion and peaceful relationships in families, locally, nationally and internationally. He equates loving others with loving him. In fact, the bible says that people who hate their brother or sister (i.e. neighbor) do not love God. 

Unity will never be realized until people – those who are religious and those who are not – understand God’s definition of love and hate. Hint: they are not the same as cultural definitions of these terms.