The church for centuries has been defined by its gathering. The church gathered is a powerful picture of God bringing together His people and equipping them with His Holy Spirit for the purpose of living united under the one banner of Jesus Christ. Together the church gathered carries out the great commission of the church to make disciples of every nation, tribe and tongue. United we have for centuries fought side by side in spiritual warfare taking up the armor of Christ in order to press on in the victory we share in Christ. Today, however, the church is greatly divided. We are not divided over theological heresy, we are not divided over race, we are not even divided over how we worship, sadly a division over carpet color would be more welcome. We, dear brother and sisters are divided over masks. Why are we so divided over such a simple thing? How have we gone from defending the resurrection of Christ to wounding the church by separating over a double layer of cotton? As Christians we are called to love one another, strive with one another, bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another, live in an understanding way with one another, place others’ needs before our own. We are called to live as peculiar people in this world yet we are waging the same arguments that the world is waging. We are partaking in a fight that affects mere moments of our lives. We are selfishly concerned more about our desires than the good of others. I am not merely targeting “pro-mask” people or “never-mask” people. I never knew there was such a need to have so great a view on cotton coverings. I do believe we are simply making a mountain out of a molehill here. This is simply a hill on which I cannot die, upon the Rock I will stand and upon that Rock I will die! I know we all have differing opinions about masks, but as blood bought Christians we ought to have this truth in common. If we cannot look past these petty things then how can we be united for the purpose of taking the gospel to a lost and dying world. Not only this but why would the world even listen if we are so divided over face coverings. I understand division over theological reasons, I understand division over ecclsiastical and polity and worship differences, but the division brought about by masks I do not understand. We are united in Christ, and if we are united unto Christ then nothing can break that unity. Please dear brothers and sisters don’t allow two pieces of cotton to divide us any further. May we strive together in love, may we be quick to listen and slow to speak. May we gather for the purpose of worshipping our one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we gather so that we might encourage one another, lifting one another up to the Lord in prayer daily. May we gather to mutually build up one another, loving one another, putting the needs of others before our own. This is why we gather. We gather not to have our selfish desires met, this is what leads to quarreling and fighting as James reminds us. Our selfish desires cause us to think only of ourselves and when persecution hits our selfish desires will not stand. We are the church gathered on Sunday morning because we need one another, this is the reason we meet, why we covenant together for one purpose. Divided we cannot uphold the principles of Scripture that we have agreed upon in covenant. My prayer is that we remain united, that we love, that we serve one another and continually lift one another up in prayer, devoting much time to the scriptures and for the mutual uplifting of one another. Let us love in word and deed.