Unity in Christ

I’ve been thinking a lot about unity lately—especially what it means to be united as followers of Jesus, even when we don't always agree on everything. There’s this tension I feel sometimes, where the world tells us that unity means total agreement, but when I look at the Bible, I’m not sure that’s what Jesus or the apostles were getting at.

One story that comes to mind is when Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15). Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Now, Peter didn’t fully understand everything about Jesus at that moment, and neither did the other disciples. But Jesus didn’t rebuke Peter for not having a complete or flawless understanding. Instead, He celebrated the truth Peter had, saying, "Blessed are you… for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). That moment shows me that we don’t need perfect theology to be close to Jesus. The important thing was that Peter recognized the core truth—that Jesus was sent from God.

I think about that a lot when I consider the various ways Christians have different understandings of doctrine. We all come into our relationship with God from different places, don’t we? None of us starts with perfect knowledge. It reminds me of how Jesus called us to be like children (Matthew 18:3). Children don’t have all the answers, but they trust and depend on the one who does. I believe we’re all on a journey of learning and growing, and God is faithful to guide us into truth through His Spirit (John 16:13).

I’ve also been reflecting on what Jesus said about His true family: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). It’s interesting that He didn’t say, "Whoever believes exactly the right things." He said, “Whoever does the will of my Father.” There’s something profound in that. It’s not that doctrine doesn’t matter—because it does—but Jesus seems to focus on our hearts and our obedience.

What binds us together as His family isn’t perfect theological alignment but our shared desire to love God and do His will. That’s a humbling thought for me because it means that someone who doesn’t have the same understanding I do on certain doctrines might still be my brother or sister if they truly love Jesus and are seeking to follow Him.

Paul touches on this idea of unity in the midst of diversity. In Ephesians 4:3, he encourages us to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Unity in the Spirit doesn’t mean we’ll agree on everything. In fact, if we look at the early church, we see that even the apostles had disagreements. Paul had to confront Peter at one point (Galatians 2:11-14), but they didn’t let their differences destroy their fellowship. They remained united in Christ.

Even Paul himself seemed to have a relaxed attitude toward some differences. In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul talks about people who preached the gospel out of wrong motives—some out of rivalry, trying to stir up trouble for him. Yet Paul’s response is surprising: "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice." If Paul could rejoice in the gospel being preached even by those with wrong intentions, how much more should I be able to celebrate the work of God in believers who might not share all my views but who genuinely love Jesus?

It’s humbling to realize that none of us chooses where or how we’re born. I’ve been blessed with access to Scripture and resources, but what about those who haven’t? What about believers in remote areas who may have only heard the gospel through a missionary from another tradition? Their understanding may differ from mine, but if they truly love God and follow Jesus, can I really judge them? Jesus said, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded" (Luke 12:48). I’m responsible for what I’ve been given, but that doesn’t mean I should judge those with less.

Ultimately, I’m learning that unity in Christ doesn’t mean uniformity in every doctrine. I may not have all the answers, but I believe that our unity is found in our love for Jesus and for each other. As Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Our love—more than our perfect understanding—is what shows the world that we belong to Him.

So, as I reflect on unity, I’m reminded that Jesus is our vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5). As long as we are connected to Him, His life flows through us. And that’s what I’m striving for—to remain in Him, and to love others as He loves me, trusting that He will continue to lead us all into truth. Let’s not let our differences in doctrine divide us. Instead, let’s focus on the core of our faith—Jesus—and let our love for Him and each other be what unites us.