God loves it when different churches partner together. He created members of the body differently to serve different functions, and the same can be said of churches. When we leverage the different strengths of different churches, we’re all strengthened. We’re better together.
The night before he was crucified, Jesus prayed for his followers, “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). Paul echoed his prayer when he wrote to the Romans: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice” (Romans 15:5-6).
But Paul also wrote this to the Corinthians who were divided over communion practices: “It is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you” (1 Cor 11:19). What? Paul says factions and divisions are necessary? In the very same letter that he started by urging that “there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction” (1 Cor 1:10)?
Paul seems to be saying divisions are bad, but also necessary. Why? Because we’re human. Limited in our understanding and knowledge. So even though we might all be pursuing “the same understanding and the same conviction,” our fallenness and foolishness means some of us will come to a different understanding and conviction. That will lead to one of three outcomes:
1. Unity with different understandings over nonessential issues
Sometimes we can stay united even with different understandings and convictions. In our church, there are some people who believe the charismatic gifts are still given today, and others who believe they ceased at the end of the age of the apostles. We have some people who believe Christ will return and reign on earth for 1000 years before judgment, and others who believe his judgment will come the same day he returns. These might have divided other churches in the past, but we see them as nonessential issues that don’t impact our unity.
2. Division over different understandings of essential issues
Sometimes our fallenness and foolishness lead us to diverge in core gospel issues. It’s very difficult for a church or believer that believes strongly in the authority of God’s word and exclusivity of salvation through Christ to be part of a denomination that is slowly wandering from those commitments (as we’ve seen over the last 25 years in most mainline denominations). So the result is often the creation of a new denomination in order to preserve core gospel commitments the former denomination once held.
3. Division over different understandings of non-essential issues
Sometimes there are nonessential issues that can still cause division. Say one leader believes strongly that infants should be baptized as part of a covenant community in anticipation of God’s saving work. Another leader believes strongly that only people who have demonstrated saving faith should be baptized so they can fully understand and appreciate the tangible symbol of the gospel. This might be a non-essential issue, but it’s virtually impossible for those two leaders to function in the same church together. So two different denominations might be formed that might partner together for different ministries, but probably won’t plan joint baptisms.
Will we ever be completely unified? We haven’t been since the Greek and Hebrew Christians divided in Acts 6, and we won’t be until Jesus returns. But let’s keep praying Paul’s prayer: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice” (Romans 15:5-6).