Different Church, Same Christ

Having worked globally with ecumenical networks (representing a number of different Christian churches) and having friends and family in a range of religious affiliations, I appreciate the diversity of expression in the body of Christ. I can, however, attest to the division that persists in the church body. If we want to move forward as the church Christ died for and established, we need to hold unity in the highest regard.

Divisions in the body are not new. When Paul heard about division in the Corinthian church, he pointed out how senseless it was (1 Corinthians 1:11–13).

Your identity should not be found in your denomination affiliation, how cool your pastor is, whether you have free coffee in your church’s lobby, or even the things your church does in the community. Our whole allegiance is to Christ. From this place we can serve our local church and be a healthy part of the capital “C” Church in the world.

My invitation to you is to not board yourself up in a box of tertiary beliefs held by any faction of Christianity. Don’t let differing views on worship style, drinking, hair color, and school choice prompt you to hurl insults and stones. Instead, make the essentials of Christianity your foundation—the authority of the Bible; the deity of Christ; the Trinity; the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus; and salvation through Jesus by grace.

In an effort to emphasize unity within the body of Christ, Paul made it plain we should love one another. He was writing to believers in Ephesus, a diverse place at the time, with rivaling ministries. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” he wrote (Ephesians 4:2–6).

Unity can sometimes be a labor of love. We have to choose to love our brothers and sisters, regardless of our agreement or disagreement on the peripheral issues, and remember Jesus’ prayer that we would be one so the world would come to know him.

Craft a unity-honoring and peaceful response you can insert into a discussion the next time you have a disagreement with a fellow Christian. For example, “I’m glad Paul says there are so many ways to express glory to God.”