In January 1967, the town of Winneconne discovered it had been mistakenly omitted from the official Wisconsin state road map, costing the town vital tourist revenue. So the town decided to secede from Wisconsin and become its own sovereign state on July 21 of that year. Some say the secession was a move to embarrass the state government while others claim it was a tongue-in-cheek act of humor. In any case, months of negotiations resulted in state and town coming together, and Winneconne rejoined Wisconsin at 12:01 a.m. on July 22, 1967.
Most division isn’t as good-natured or as easily resolved. Division is such a threat that the book of Proverbs lists the “the person who stirs up conflict” (6:19) as one of “six things the Lord hates” (6:16).
But it’s not important simply because of the problems division causes. Disunity misrepresents Jesus and His Father. The night before the cross, Christ prayed that His followers would be one in Him, “that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).
Jesus made it clear that our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ (or lack of it) impacts the world’s belief in Jesus! Perhaps that’s why Paul told the Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). May we allow the Spirit of Christ to make us one—that the world may be drawn to Him.
