“In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity”. This phrase has been attributed to various historical figures over the years, but it actually first appeared in a tract on Christian unity written during the Thirty Years War around 1627. This was a bloody time in European history when tension and disunity between various religious groups played an important role in fueling animosity and creating division. While the theological turf wars today have become less bloody than 400 years ago, our divisions as Christians have only gotten worse. In fact, I think it is fair to say that we thrive on disunity.
It is estimated that there are more than 35,000 protestant denominations today. Each one has some unique facet of teaching, church structure, doctrine, preferences or culture that separates them from the others. Now I do understand that some of these are apostate churches with false teachers (and we should therefore not be in fellowship with them), but many are not. Even among the narrow subset of Bible-believing, doctrinally sound churches that I have known throughout the years, there are many stripes. We love to find reasons to put down another group and differentiate ourselves from them.
This has happened in part because we have turned many non-essentials into tests of our fellowship with other believers. The Roman church had disputes about what they should eat – “one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” (Romans 14:2). They also had differences of opinion about what holy days should be celebrated – “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.” (Romans 14:5). We see many differences regarding social status, observing parts of the law, partaking of meat sacrificed to idols, and a host of other divisive issues in the early church. All of these were deemed non-essentials. In these areas of non-doctrinal disagreement, the church was called to teach the Word, be accommodating to people’s convictions, and “keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
While there is much that we should overlook to promote unity, there are also some essentials that should never be compromised. Here are a few key things to consider when determining if unity and fellowship is possible:
- Salvation Through Christ Alone – The early church in Jerusalem was the model of church unity. Yet, the message of Peter was very narrow and unwavering that salvation could only be found through Jesus Christ – “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). There are those who would open the door for other means to have eternal life. We can’t be in unity with those who claim other avenues to have a right relationship with God. The doctrine of salvation through Christ alone is not negotiable.
- Scripture Alone – The inerrancy of Scripture was a flashpoint for the modernist-fundamentalist controversy a century ago. It caused a great division of churches in our county. Many liberal seminaries and denominations rejected that Scripture is completely without error and is the ONLY way God speaks to us today. The canon of Scripture is closed and those who proclaim new revelation or rely on man-made theological systems or tradition are attempting to add to God’s Word (and thereby lowering its authority for us).
- Clear Biblical Teaching – When you look to the Bible and see that the plain sense of Scripture teaches something clearly, it should be authoritative for you. I know there are details that are less clear, not obvious, and debated in conservative theological circles, but I’m talking about clear teaching. There are clear requirements for the offices of Pastors and Deacons. There are clear teachings about immorality. There are clear teachings about proper Christian conduct. The list can go on and on. If it is clearly taught in the Bible, it should not be up for debate or accommodation.
There is more that could be said about what areas we can (and SHOULD) have division amongst believers, but I want you to consider your own heart in this. Do you thrive on nit-picking another person’s preferences, their church culture, or how they are living out their faith in the world? If so, you may not be working to keep the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Let’s not keep thriving on disunity. Instead, strive for unity wherever it can be found without compromising God’s truth.
References:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/essentials-unity-non-essentials-liberty-all-things