Unity in the church - is doctrine the standard?

We have been pursuing our Doctrinal Rethink for some time now. In the process of engaging it we have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern.

Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched? How did we arrive at our doctrines?

For far too many, Christian unity means standardless ecumenicism and compromise. The watered-down Church, unable to articulate its own principles any longer, opens its doors to every sort of pop culture idea, preferring "relevance" to the Gospel, accommodation to righteousness, and conciliation to truth. This results in churches and denominations embracing anti-biblical doctrines and politically leftist ideas like social justice, abortion, and critical race theory; or heresies like reducing Jesus to nothing more than a great teacher, eliminating any mention of sin, or turning God into an absentee landlord.

On the other side of the coin, there are Christians for whom unity is possible only of those who belong to a narrow, exclusive club comprised of those who share exacting beliefs. They create a long and detailed list of doctrines for which there must be lock-step agreement before any fellowship with another Christian is permitted.

These "Doctrinal Police" create workarounds to justify their separation, the most common of which is their claim that embracing a different doctrine is gross heresy, making the person not a Christian. That is, if someone believes something different, they are not saved and not entitled to consideration. they are not even deserving of prayer.

This extreme and unbiblical position reeks of cultism, and ensures that the Church will never be able to obey Jesus' command:

Jn. 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

James also speaks against this practice:

Ja. 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

And Paul:

Ro. 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

We certainly agree that doctrine can be an justifiable barrier to fellowship. Primary doctrines like salvation, God's nature and character, and the complete trustworthiness of the Bible are inflexible standards where there can be no compromise.

Albert Mohler supplies us with a handy evaluative process for determining the level of connection we can enjoy with other Christians, based on doctrine. Doctrine would indeed separate us from fellowship with those who call themselves brothers but live in sin:

2Ti. 3:2-5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Tit. 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

Ga. 2:4-5 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

But is doctrine the sole determining factor? We were unable to locate any Scripture that commands us to separate from people because of doctrine. We know this is an astounding claim, but Scripture has other remedies for false teachers, and casting them out is not found, though that is a remedy for those who live licentious lifestyles (1Co. 5:11-13).

Unity, then, is not so much a matter of doctrine but of love and concern for our brothers. Let's consider the Bible testimony:

Ro. 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ro. 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law.

Ro. 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling-block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

Ro. 15:5-7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

1Co. 1:10-13 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

Ep. 4:1-5 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

"Unity" is ἑνότης, ητος, ἡ (henotes) oneness (unity), especially the God-produced unity (oneness) between believers – i.e. the harmony from sharing likeness of nature with the Lord (used only in Eph 4:3,13).

Ep. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ph. 2:1-3 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Col. 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ...

"United" is συμβιβάζω (sumbibazó) to unite or knit together in affection,

Col. 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Our conclusion is that God values brotherly love and its resulting unity more than He values correct doctrine. While doctrine is important, it is rarely the measuring line of unity.