Low Hurdles

Hypophoras (high-PAH-fuh-ruhs) — you’ve heard them all your life. Hypophora is a rhetorical device in which the speaker poses his own question and immediately answers it. Politicians used this device to steer press conferences their way, frustrating the media to no end. Yet a hypophora can also set an engaging tone, and it is an effective means of emphasizing a point. James, for instance, employed this technique to address disunity within the early church: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.”¹ He’s right, of course, so in our continued discussion of Christian unity, let’s identify other obstacles that stand in our way of it.

The obstacle of pride. Prodding the Philippians toward unity — to be “in full accord and of one mind” — Paul challenged them, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.”² Instead, “Let each of [us] look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.”³

The obstacle of false teaching. Paul alerted the church in Rome, “to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.”⁴ We do well to guard against those who bend Scripture to their liking instead of submitting themselves to its authority. “Avoid them,”⁵ counseled Paul.

The obstacle of judgmentalism. Paul admonishes the church, “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”⁶ Instead, “let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”⁷

Other obstacles of the flesh. Among the works of the flesh — our human inclination toward sin — Paul includes these: “enmity, strife, . . . rivalries, dissensions, [and] divisions.”⁸ He exhorts us to the contrary, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”⁹

The obstacle of opposition. Jude reminds us, “There will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” ¹⁰ He continues, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God . . . And have mercy on those who doubt.” ¹¹

Should we be surprised by these and other obstacles to unity among us? No, for Satan seeks “someone” to devour. But our unity is God’s will and Jesus’ great desire, so let us clear all hurdles that stand in our way and submit as one to the love and power of Christ.

Father, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”¹² In Christ I pray. Amen.

¹ James 4:1-2 NIV
² Philippians 2:2-3 ESV
³ Philippians 2:4 ESV
^{4, 5} Romans 16:17 ESV
⁶ Romans 14:13 ESV
⁷ Romans 14:19 ESV
⁸ Galatians 5:20 ESV
⁹ Romans 13:14 NIV
¹⁰ Jude 1:18-19 ESV
¹¹ Jude 1:20-21 ESV
¹² Psalm 143:10 ESV