John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:3-6, 1 Corinthians 1:10
The Prayer Jesus Prayed
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His disciples — and for all who would believe through their message:
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. — John 17:20-21
The unity of God's people is not merely a nice ideal — it is integral to the church's witness. A divided church proclaims a divided Christ. When the world sees Christians loving one another across differences, it catches a glimpse of the God who sent Jesus.
The Unity That Already Exists
Paul's basis for the call to unity in Ephesians 4 is the unity that already exists in Christ:
There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. — Ephesians 4:4-6
The unity of the church is not something we must create — it is something we must maintain. "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3). The Spirit has created one people; our responsibility is to preserve and express that unity.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Issues
Not all disagreements are equal. The church has always distinguished between issues of different weight:
Primary (essential) issues — the doctrines without which Christianity ceases to be Christianity: the Trinity, the incarnation, the death and resurrection of Christ, salvation by grace through faith. Division over these is warranted; this is what Paul means by "a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6-9).
Secondary issues — significant doctrinal questions on which Christians disagree but which do not place someone outside the faith: baptism, church governance, spiritual gifts, eschatology. These may justify different denominations or congregations but should not produce hostility or contempt between believers.
Tertiary issues — matters of preference, style, or application: worship style, service format, dress codes. These should never be grounds for division.
Pursuing Unity Practically
Unity is not uniformity. The church is one body with many members, many gifts, many cultural expressions. Pursuing unity means:
- Speaking well of other churches and denominations that preach the gospel
- Cooperating in mission and service across denominational lines
- Resolving conflicts through the processes Jesus outlined rather than splitting
- Holding secondary disagreements with humility and charity