Can Christian Factions Disagree About Theology and Remain United?
This is one of those questions that seldom enters our minds as we engage in different Christian activities within conflicting Christian movements. This question is particularly important because God builds a unified Christian movement called the Body of Christ, and demands that we dedicate considerable spiritual resources to maintain that Body’s unity and vitality. To respond to this question properly, we need to explore some important facts about genuine Christians that many overlook.
All True Christians Belong to a Single Movement – The Body of Christ
Contrary to the common belief that everyone who calls themselves Christian shares the same identity, true Christians form one organization called the Body of Christ. In Ephesians 4:1-6, the Bible states, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” It is plainly obvious that anyone not acknowledged by God as part of this united body is not a true Christian. In light of this reality, labeling ourselves or identifying with any denominational affiliation is less important than meeting the obligations of belonging to that group. Sadly, many individuals caught in different Christian religious cycles feel compelled to defend their belief system instead of focusing on doing God’s will in their context. As a result, numerous so-called Christian organizations worldwide adhere to and promote conflicting doctrines, preventing unified progress.
All Genuine Christians are of the Same Mind
Genuine Christians belong not only to one body but also share spiritual unity with each other. Naturally, this is not obvious when observing the current chaos within the divided Christian groups we have formed. Attending a Catholic Church service will never leave you feeling the same as leaving a Pentecostal service. You also won’t have the same feelings and beliefs when you attend a Methodist, Charismatic, and Oneness Pentecostal fellowship. These movements not only exhibit diverse forms of worship but also contain conflicts within their core doctrines and schools of thought. As a result, leaders in these Christian groups hold their own unique agendas and interpretations of God’s message for the world. The encouraging news is that despite the chaos, God preserves a remnant that discerns and obeys His will, despite suffering under biased and subjective ideas and patterns in their system. God reaches out to sincere inquirers everywhere in the world, including among Buddhists, Muslims, atheists, pagans, and even scientists who deeply seek the truth but are unsure how to find it. By His mercy, He always finds a way to reveal Himself to these people and lead them to a community of true Christians who will help them develop spiritually.
The imperfection of human systems stems from our fallen state, yet this should not be used as a reason to pursue self-centered goals, as many theologians suggest. A few Christian denominations possess a real and concentrated manifestation of the Holy Spirit within their community. Others experience only a superficial presence of the Holy Spirit, influenced mainly by human theological methods and traditions that lean more towards religiosity than authentic worship of God. Of such the Bible describes as, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Moreover, the Bible sternly warns, “And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:5). Most modern Christian groups are loosely formed assemblies guided by their own desires, with clear examples including inclusive, progressive, socialist, cults, occult, and new age Christian communities.
If genuine Christians were brought together from their various contexts to a single location, they would easily participate in any type of fellowship, like worship or prayer, something the current self-centered movements cannot achieve. This is because the Holy Spirit directs all genuine believers and inspires no kind of self-centeredness, contradiction, or conflicting ideologies among them. The Bible captures this in Revelation 7:9-10, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Genuine Christians are not Many
Following Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 7:13-23, we see that throughout the whole church era, only a small portion of the world’s population is truly Christian. This is plainly obvious from today’s materialistic and selfish trends worldwide. Believing the common statistics on search engines that claim genuine Christians number in the billions would be a fatal mistake. These statistics overlook the Bible’s focus on genuine repentance and a life of obedience to God as key criteria. If you’re reading this article, you should aim to be one of the few chosen from the many who are called.
Answer
“Can two walk together, unless they agreed?” (Amos 3:3). “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). Based on what we’ve observed, Christian factions differ in their beliefs, disagree on theology, don’t share the same core doctrines for their spiritual journey, and aren’t always guided by the Holy Spirit. Because they differ on these core matters that define the authentic Christian movement, they are not united. For sincere inquirers, it is more beneficial to identify as a Christian rather than seek denominational affiliations. Since most true believers belong to various Christian groups, your principal goal should be to follow God’s will wherever you are. Nonetheless, you are responsible for verifying that you belong to a fellowship with a genuine emphasis on the Holy Spirit and whose activities are led by the Holy Spirit.
Share this message with individuals in your community who find it challenging to understand the relationship between the Bible and theology.
Study, explore, gain wisdom, and remain blessed in the Lord!
