One of the hallmarks of youth is zealous energy and passionate vision. How well I understand!

Paul was no fan of the welfare state. His disdain for laziness was so strong that he gave the Thessalonians the memorable command, If a man will not work, let him not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Having seen that scriptural modesty is undermined by an obsessive attempt to fit in with every fashion, we now find ourselves facing the question: How then are we to look in the world's eyes?

It is probably true that on the whole Paul's commands are more difficult for women to swallow than men. Paul irks modern sensibilities.

We take the world's habits and attitudes far too easily and thoughtlessly for granted.

Christians in all times have found this a particularly odious command. Many today manufacture a variety of justifications why in this or that case Christians are not obligated to heed the strict letter of its requirement.

We have spoken about unity within Christ's body as the fulfillment of Jesus' intimate prayer to his Father of John 17. But the harmony of humanity we are to exhibit as God's ambassadors to the world, and as avowed disciples of his Son, goes much further.

One of the first scriptures my mother taught my sisters and me was Romans 12:18. To this day the words are emblazoned on my memory where they were Scotch-taped to our refrigerator: If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

Unity is the great neglected virtue of the New Testament. It may, in fact, be the most important of all the virtues the church is to display to the world.

We find ourselves here facing a sometimes confusing, often misapplied, and complex command.