Day 36: Cyprian of Carthage - “Inseparability”
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”
Introduction
As no child should be separated from his family, so no member of Christ should be separated from the church. The Bible emphasizes the unity of Christ’s body. And this is not optional, for it reflects God’s goodness and love. That’s why division—through pride and conflict—is one of the enemy’s greatest tools against the church.
We may already know how crucial oneness is, but it is often absent in practice. Though he lived centuries ago, Cyprian of Carthage continues to teach believers today about the importance of unity. He stressed that the church is not just a gathering of people, but a unified, inseparable body of Christ.
Inseparability
During Cyprian’s time, Christians were persecuted and pressured to renounce their faith. A good number actually did, but when they wanted to return to the church, there was a deep division over what to do. Some were lenient and said to let them return. Others were harsh and insisted they should never be accepted back. Cyprian, understanding that the church must be one, called for them to repent and be restored. He held both truth and mercy together for the sake of unity, to see members returning to Christ and the church.
Cyprian famously wrote, “He cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.” To belong to Christ is to belong to the church. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we became permanent members of His body. In Him, we are inseparably joined to one another. Therefore, we must protect and fight for unity—standing firm in truth and being merciful.
Reflection
Through our actions, we are either used by God to build unity or by Satan to destroy it. If we want to be God’s instruments to edify the church, then we must submit ourselves to each other in humbleness and love. For the sake of unity, let’s surrender our selfishness, bitterness, and pride. May we honor Christ by pursuing unity in His church.