Sallie Dawkins

Civil war is not from God.

We are not meant to fight against ourselves. Why would we, if we are One in Christ?

Yet there is a battle taking place within the body as if it is some sort of competition for recognition, influence, position, or platform. This is not the heart of Jesus.

We are not hirelings. We are led by the Spirit. Jesus speaks about this in John 10:11-13. He contrasts Himself, the Good Shepherd, with the hired hand. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hireling runs when danger comes because the sheep do not truly belong to him. That is a sobering picture.

The hireling protects himself first. When the wolf comes, he abandons the sheep. But Jesus does not abandon His people. He stays. He covers. He protects. He lays down His life.

Real spiritual leadership is not self-serving. It is faithful, sacrificial, and rooted in genuine love for the people God places in our care.

The body of Christ should not be a place where people feel pressured to compete for visibility. It should be a place where people are discipled, healed, strengthened, and released into what and where God has called them.

We are called to know our identity in Christ. We are called to grow in spiritual maturity. We are called to hear the voice of God, walk in the authority He has given us, and make room for one another’s gifts. There is no need for jealousy when we understand that each person carries a different assignment.

One person may be called to write. Another may be called to pray and intercede. Another may carry a gift of healing, teaching, prophecy, hospitality, administration, or encouragement. Each gift matters. Each testimony matters. Each obedient yes matters.

The Kingdom is not built by competition. It is built through love, surrender, faithfulness, and obedience to the Holy Spirit.

We must learn to protect one another rather than tear one another down. We must celebrate what God is doing through someone else rather than feel threatened by it. We must remember that when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer; and when one part is strengthened, the whole body benefits.

There are many hurting people in the world, and they do not need another performance. They need the real Jesus. They need believers who are mature enough to love deeply, humble enough to serve quietly, and secure enough in their identity that they can make room for someone else to shine.

With God as our Lord, our allegiance is aligned with Him—our King—not with denominations fraught with the traditions of men.

May we become people who carry the heart of the Good Shepherd.

May we protect the sheep.

May we honor one another.

May we stop competing and start building.

The world is watching, and the body of Christ has a beautiful opportunity to walk in unity and reveal what genuine love looks like.