Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.  Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred (Proverbs 15:16-17).

Shouldn't the Church be the one place on Earth where we can live with peace and harmony?  Shouldn't the Body of Christ be the one place where we can experience supernatural unity, even in the midst of diversity?  Shouldn't we who follow Jesus be able to work through our differences and live in unbroken fellowship, even when we experience difficulties?  Shouldn't Christians -- if we're really holding to the teachings of the Bible -- be able to avoid church splits and relational rifts?

Of course we should.  But after years of following Jesus and participating in various expressions of Christian community, I've come to wonder if, at times, it's just plain inevitable.

I'll be the first to admit that it seems like theological sleight-of-hand, to allow for any sort of regrettable results of conflict leading to anything short of the unity that Jesus so earnestly prayed for in John chapter 17.  But I've been a part of arguments that have lasted for years and years -- to the point that when some separation between conflicting parties is finally created, it feels like a tremendous relief, an almost supernatural peace.  People go their separate ways, and peace returns to all of the involved parties.  After having observed this on more than one occasion, I have to wonder if such less-than-ideal solutions for disagreements within the church are simply impossible to avoid.  Yes, it's a sign of our brokenness, and the stubborn vestigial remnants of our flesh (even while we're in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ)... But surely, peace is better than perennial power-struggles.  Isn't it?  It's natural for us to wish that we could do better.  But... Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.  Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Am I right in this?  Is it better for people to part ways than to persist in trying to resolve a seemingly unresolvable conflict?  I genuinely wonder what's best.  Of course, if it is possible, we should strive to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).  But what should we do when this is impossible?