A thread: Over the last decade, I can think of virtually no calls for "unity" in the Church which did anything other than seek to keep the status quo. Usually, those calling for unity only do it when people start advocating for change.

The calls for unity came when people advocated for equality for women in ministry. They came when people spoke out against sexism, racism, and oppression. In doing so, those making calls for "unity" demonstrate they value peace over everything else.

They urge that our belief in Jesus should be what unites us and argue that when we get to Heaven, we will be with many we currently disagree with. True, except the fact that those people won't take their problematic racism and sexism with them to Heaven.

Where is unity when people don't believe you matter and believe your experiences are meaningless? Where is unity when one person is actively oppressed by someone they are supposed to be united with? Where is unity when your belief is that I am lesser than you?

Unity cannot exist when its foundation is inherently different. If the Jesus you believe in supports your evil behavior, then we cannot be united unless one of us changes our belief. There is no common ground because our foundations are totally different.

Those calling for unity believe they are taking the high road, but by only calling for it when people express dissatisfaction, they favor the side of the oppressor and are trying to keep things the way they are.

For example, I've not seen a literal call for unity that asked people to stop being racist, instead they've only asked people to just look past it in favor of peace. These calls for unity ignore mediation and justice and seek to jump straight to peace and reconciliation.

There cannot be peace without justice. A call for unity or peace which does not include justice, correction, and repentance is not a call for unity. It is support for those causing harm and a rejection of the victims of the harm inflicted.

To put it bluntly: calling for unity while refusing to speak against evil is a dog whistle for division.

There is no fast-forwarding to unity. We cannot skip to the peace of Heaven without the process of justice. We cannot skip to a reconciled relationship without repentance and forgiveness, first.

Disunity doesn't start when people stand up against injustice, it starts the moment people acted unjustly in the first place. The ones really seeking unity are those seeking justice, not those who simply call for unity and decry division.

The most painful part that comes with this reality is realizing that maybe we weren't as united before all of this as we thought we were. That hurts to accept, causing many to blame disunity for their discomfort. But, disunity is not itself the enemy, what causes disunity is.

If Christians want unity, the surest way to get there is through the process of justice. This requires correction and repentance and creates opportunities for reconciliation. If God Himself refuses to skip justice, what gives us the right to?

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.