The Challenge of Christian Unity in the 21st Century

“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, who is over all and through all and in all.” —Ephesians 4:4-6

On the last night of his earthly life, Jesus prayed fervently for the unity of his disciples—that they would all be “one,” or completely unified, just as he and his Father are (John 17:20-33; 10: 30). Yet, sadly, the destructive spirit of division quickly manifested itself in the very time in which the apostles of Jesus lived (Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 3:1-7; 11:18; Tit. 3:10; Jude 1:19). The apostles themselves labored intensely to combat the sectarian spirit and to preserve the undefiled doctrines of their Master. But discord, strife, false prophets, and false teachings, quietly, yet inevitably, spread like a cancer among the early congregations. Yet a moment’s consideration of the current religious landscape—2000 years after the fact—reveals that professing Christians are now irreconcilably divided into, literally, thousands of sects, denominations, and religious organizations. This can make for a bewildering situation for anyone trying to be faithful to Christ’s teaching yet desirous of the faith-building Christian fellowship spoken of in Scripture (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35). The scenario becomes even more difficult when religious leaders inspire guilt or fear among prospective disciples, insisting that loyalty to their self-assigned authority, adherence to a humanly-fabricated creed, or conformity to a contrived list of regulations and ecclesiastical policies, is—in addition to a living faith in Christ—the true way to salvation. Corruptions of these kinds can be subtle but they are rampant. They are often signaled by an unnecessary emphasis on unbiblical language, by an unwarranted dogmatism over unclear, interpretive, scriptural matters, by an unjustified insistence on a believer’s dependence on an “institution” or “organization” for salvation, and in an overall failure to build faith in “the word of truth” in the form of “the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.”

These factors can make it difficult for Christians to give full support to many—if not most—of the modern religious establishments. But in spite of the challenges that exist, and the divisiveness that often prevails, believers can still—after the pattern of the apostles and first-century Christians—assemble together in private homes to experience the fullness of Christian fellowship (Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Phm. 1:2). This can take place, of course, in a variety of places, like a park, a backyard, at the beach, or in a building—wherever at least “two or three are gathered in [Jesus’] name,” since he promises to be “in the midst of them” (Matt.18:20). The people of God do not meet, however, because of social or authoritarian pressures, to avoid punishment, or to fulfill a legalistic requirement, but to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds,” and to “encourage one another” in the “most holy faith” as we “see the day drawing near.” — 27 Jude 1:20; Heb. 10:24-2

Although imperfections will inevitably arise in any gathering of Christians, a powerful force for unity can be found in a focus on “the more excellent way,” “the greatest commandment(s),” and in an unfailing recognition of Christ’s exclusive, God-given status as Lord and Master of the Christian community—strengthened by an enduring, conscious commitment not to go beyond the original Christian faith as expressed in Scripture. —Mark 12:28-31; 1 Cor. 12:31; 13:1-13

Now that the Scriptures have become so widely available (a relatively recent development), simply reading them with others (apart from ‘institutional’ or ‘denominational’ supervision), in private homes or the like, can make for a profound source of spiritual refreshment and faith-strengthening fellowship (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 3:14-18). Through prayerful study and meditation, we can ensure that “the word of Christ dwell[s] in [us] richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in [our] hearts to God.” —Col. 3:16; Compare Eph. 5:19

Even in this divisive age, a genuine oneness of mind can be achieved when we remember that, as his disciples, we have “one teacher,” Christ himself, and that we “are all brothers”—using our gifts not to express superiority or dominance over others, but to “serve one another in love” (Matt. 23:8; John 13:13, 14; Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10). 

With these principles in mind, both truth and freedom can prevail, in the understanding that all have access to the grace of God, as the Lord’s true people, not by conformity to a man-made creed or institution, but through faith in “the holy one of God,” Jesus, who alone has “the sayings of everlasting life”—for it is “through him” that we have “access in one spirit to the Father.” —John 6:68-69; Rom. 5:2; Eph. 2:18; 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:5