Unity is essential but not at the expense of righteousness or right treatment of others. Indeed, Christians are to treat one another as brothers and sisters – family. Jesus Christ prayed for a united body (John 17:21), and the New Testament exhorts the family of God to dwell in the bond of peace (Romans 12:18; Ephesians 6:1-4). But calling for unity should never imply keeping silent about sin.

When Christians treat transgressions as trivial they are attempting to manipulate a narrative and control circumstances for self-interest. The same texts that speak about unity and walking in love are in the context of putting away falsehood, being children of light, and exposing darkness (Ephesians 4-5). In other words, Christians should be united in speaking truth. They should strive together to confront conflicts and not sweep sin under the rug. But this is uncomfortable. And many churches are comfortable talking about unity without being willing to do what it takes to achieve God’s mandate for maturity.

Many churches are comfortable talking about unity without being willing to do what it takes to achieve God’s mandate for maturity.

Genuine Christian unity has three elements: doctrinal, philosophical, and relational.(1) If any of these are out of alignment, then unity will be challenged. A one-legged stool is easily tipped, a two-layered rope can eventually be untied, but a three-fold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

If this definition of unity is accepted, then unity is wrong if…

• It compromises God’s truth.
• It contrasts convictions.
• It cheapens biblical love and wounds people in the process.

There are examples of Christians, or the church, not choosing unity because of its apparent wrongness as described above. Consider such examples

• Jesus with the Pharisees or Sadducees (Doctrine).
• Church confronting the apostles neglecting Gentile widows (Doctrinal, Philosophical, Relational).
• Paul and Barnabas (Relational).
• Paul with the Jerusalem Church (Doctrinal, Philosophical, Relational).

The aim is not to wield Scripture as a sword with clobber passages about unity. When one does this, they are dismissing the profound depth of unity and the richness of the gospel for which Jesus died. Instead, Christians are to understand each facet of unity is to be upheld not underestimated. If not, yes, the witness to a watching world is tainted. Sin has real consequences, but thankfully nothing can thwart God’s purposes and His church prevails against the gates of hell.

So, let the church stand in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.

1) See Larry Osborne, Sticky Teams, p.28.