They were afraid of separation from family, from friends, from life, from God. The epistle from 2 Corinthians issues the call to be reconciled and to be reconcilers, ambassadors for Christ. Being reconciled means overcoming our separation from God, from others. While this description may be overdone the report continues by presenting information suggesting that both groups are holding classes to teach members how to witness to members of the other group. This kind of activity seems to be far from the mandate to be reconciled, to be reconcilers.
Fear plays a role here, too, keeping people apart.
The clash of titans described here seems to be a struggle between two groups of Christians to win each others members rather than witness to the power of God in Christ. The Epistle lesson calls us as ambassadors for Christ. Witnesses we should be but fear seems to make the response in the article more one of scalp hunters rather than reconcilers. The focus of much of our anxiety like that of the disciples in the boat is on ourselves and our safety. Because we are separated, unreconciled to God and God s universe, we fear.