Unity in the Church

"And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." 

- Mark 3:25

 

I once read a quote from a book (it was something in the Great Brain series, but I don't quite recall the reference) that was far more profound than it seemed to have a right to be. It described a small town in America, so small they only had one church. This was somewhat of a problem, as there were a multitude of different denominations present in the town; Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc. But to solve this, they came up with a simple solution: "everyone went to the same church, and the minister preached straight from the Bible so everybody would agree."*

What a revolutionary idea. 

Many different denominations of Christians believe different things, about salvation, marriage, church leadership, and baptism. I know plenty of true Christians who I love and respect hugely, but who I disagree with on secondary matters. And sometimes, it can feel difficult to reconcile those. 

But maybe, just maybe, it's possible to maintain unity in a church full of people of a multitude of differing views. 

In Romans 14, Paul addresses this topic in detail. What if there's a minor disagreement of theology among two brethren, and they both believe they're clearly in the right? And what if one brother is right, according to Scripture, but the other brother strongly believes in his conscience that it's wrong? It's the duty of the stronger brother (stronger meaning, in this case, more mature in the Christian faith) to allow for the conscience of the weaker brother, and not tempt him against his belief. 

For some of us, these disagreements can turn to sin. I know that I've often let theological debates turn personal, and friendships are impeded because of that. And it's an ugly reality that pride is the great corrupter, and that not even our theology is immune to its evil. But, isn't it also the case that God can help us to grow in grace? 

One solution to the problem of secondary disagreements is to let those debates go. If I have a friend who I disagree with on a secondary doctrine, but it's no longer helpful to discuss it with him or her, I can drop it. If it's not a matter of salvation, it won't affect the state of their eternal soul. And that might be exactly what that brother or sister needs. 

Another (related) solution is to focus on what you do agree on. Like in the fictional church above, focus on the Bible. All Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God—the differences come from interpretation. So, focus on that! Speak from the Bible, and speak on things that edify. Because there's a lot in there, and talking about it can strengthen people in ways that would surprise you.

 

Now, it's not always that simple, I know. Sometimes, the disagreements that arise from interpretation do cause faulty doctrine, and can result in broken relationships, denominations, or churches. Even two of the great heroes of the faith, Paul and Barnabas, disagreed so strongly with each other that they decided to part ways on the first missionary journey; that's the reality of the world we live in. 

Even so, we shouldn't lose heart. Yes, we live in a world where even Christians have sharp and sometimes bitter quarrels. But that doesn't mean that we have to keep having those quarrels over and over again, simply because there's no way we can ever agree perfectly—imagine how discordant the church would be then! 

If you're in a situation like this, there are a couple things to consider. First, pray. I know I've said it before (and believe me, I will say it again), but prayer is the best way to draw close to God. Ask your Father, and he'll build you up in wisdom. And he'll help you love your neighbor as yourself, even if you differ. 

Secondly, examine your own life. Jesus says in Matthew 7:4, "How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" You can't be a doctor performing optical surgery on your patient if you're legally blind yourself—that's a recipe for a whole load of pain and disaster. Consider if you're in the wrong. Let go of your pride, and embrace the humility that comes with self-examination. And see the other person not as your enemy, but as a fellow member of the body of Christ. 

Because that's what the church is.

*This is not an exact quote. Normally I'm a stickler for citations, but unfortunately, I never owned the book myself, and am thus unable to check.