Unity has been given us by the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. We are commanded to keep the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3). The vows we made in marriage did not say “until we disagree.” It is until death separates us. Why is the vow in baptism and church membership any different? We all made vows when we were baptized and when we became church members. We cannot become unbaptized. We should not break the vows we made with a congregation unless through marriage and transferring to our spouse’s congregation or moving to another geographical area. May God help us. And may we keep our vows.

Carl L. Smeltzer
Harrisonburg, Va.