There is a growing surge of interest in the church for unity among the different groups, movements or denominations. But with the calls to unity are accusations that doctrine is the cause and the real enemy to the future of God’s kingdom. The false solution given is, if we really are of God, we need to truly act in love by removing or dropping doctrines that divide us, and instead, work together and show the world how tolerant we all are of each other.
Well maybe if the Pentecostals would stop speaking in tongues and claiming they are spiritually superior to the rest of us, we could have unity. Or maybe if the Baptist stopped preaching repentance and broaden their view of salvation to accept the Catholic Church’s doctrine as equal to theirs, then we all could be unified.
I know, if we broaden our definition of Jesus to what all groups want, whether He is God, or like God, or a lesser god formed by God, or a brother of Lucifer, a good teacher, and just accept everyone who says the word Jesus in their doctrine as equal brothers, we would all just get along! Right?
Is that the unity that God wants?
And what or who is really to blame for church division? Paul says in the Bible…
“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.” [1 Timothy 6:3-5 (New Living Translation)]
Paul blames the false teachers who twist the scripture, and have turned from the truth as the cause of division. They gain followers with false teaching and error.
And not only is the unity of the church destroyed by false teaching, not the truth, but the path to unity is not by dropping the truth of God’s Word to a few agreeable truths, but just the opposite! We must preach the truth with great force! “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” [Ephesians 4:12-16 (NLT)]
As Paul explains the need and requirement for Christian leaders, he also adds the need to teach firmly and strongly, and not fear conflict. “He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.” [Titus 1:9-11 (NLT)]
The answer to division is not surrender or acceptance! “So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.” [Titus 1:13-14 (NLT)]
Paul did not give up on this method for unity. He pounds home the point to teach the truth with clarity, evidence, and persistence.
“Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us…You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.” [Titus 2:8,15 (NLT)]
“I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.” [Titus 3:8 (NLT)]
“Avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about Moses’ Teachings. This is useless and worthless.” [Titus 3:9 (God’s Word Translation)]
No matter what response the Jewish leaders, spiritual leaders, or the crowd gave, our Lord Jesus always “spoke the truth in love.” Just like Him, we must boldly call sinners to repentance, and not tolerate sin. And we must teach all the truth with such clarity that our “teaching can’t be criticized.”
If you want unity, first stop listening to the reasoning of people around you. Then, dig deeply into the commands of Jesus. Learn them, live them, and teach them. As we unite and “insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good,” we will enjoy the unity the Lord Jesus desires.
