UNITY IN CHRIST ALONE
Unity among believers is one of the deepest desires of Christ’s heart, yet it is often one of the hardest realities for His people to live out. Real unity is not based on every believer seeing everything alike (Romans 14:1-4), nor is it about complete agreement on every point of doctrine. It rests on something much deeper—our shared allegiance to Jesus Christ.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he urged them: “I plead with you that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He was not demanding identical thinking in every opinion, but a joining together in heart and in spirit because they belonged to the same Lord. The context reveals that they were speaking “different things” about to whom they belonged and that is what he was asking them to be united about: the fact that they belonged only to Jesus. We should just be Christians today and not use divisive names.
Paul later gave them room to differ about issues like eating meat offered to idols or observing special days (1 Corinthians 8:8-13; 10:23-33), showing that differences in non-essentials should not threaten fellowship.
A passage often used as a proof-text by those who would see us bow before their denominational authority and be divided from one another is Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (KJV). The idea is that we cannot have unity unless we agree on everything, doctrinally speaking. That is not only not what the prophet was talking about, that whole idea is nonsensical, illogical and unscriptural.
The Hebrew word translated “agreed” in the King James Version means to agree to or make an appointment to meet (at a stated time). Thus the emphasis is not on intellectual uniformity in all matters, but rather on a prior mutual appointment or decision: two select to walk together, they set a time or a path, they commit to the journey. The idea is shared direction and purpose, not absolute synoptic doctrine. Various translations reflect this: “Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment to walk together?” (NASB). The practical application and thrust of what Amos was saying would be that we will never have Christian unity until we decide to have unity in Jesus and agree to walk together in fellowship with Him.
This helps us see that walking side-by-side in the journey of faith means choosing to move together beneath the same Lord, not insisting that every step look precisely the same. Our unity is built on a common destination and a common Guide, not on identical viewpoints.
In the analogy of a house, if we build on shifting sand of minor opinions and secondary traditions, the storms of disagreement will surely shake the structure. But when we build on the Rock—Christ Himself (Matthew 7:24-27)—the house stands firm. True unity stands like a tree planted by streams of living water, rooted deeply in one foundation.
Our Lord prayed for this unity: “That they all may be one—as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us—that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21). The visible unity of believers is part of our witness to the world. When brothers and sisters live in love and mutual respect, despite their differences, the world catches a glimpse of God’s own oneness. When we fracture over secondary matters, the world sees only disunity and confusion.
Moreover, concentrating on the core identity in Christ, Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “…endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…” Our unity flows from that reality. We are one because He is one. Differences in non-essentials remain, but our shared life in Christ binds us more deeply than any divergence could separate us.
In a world that grows more secular and doubtful of truth, the cost of our disunity is high. People look for hope, but too often they see confusion. The remedy is not to erase every difference, but to lift Christ higher than all of them. When He becomes our meeting place, our hearts find common ground.
True unity does not demand that we think alike on every point. It means walking together in love, bound by the same Spirit, following the same Lord, moving toward the same goal. We may not see everything the same way, but we can walk the same road if we have chosen to walk with Him. That is the unity Jesus prayed for—the unity that stands on the Rock and will never fall.
Lord Jesus,
You are the cornerstone upon which all true unity is built. You hold the body together when our opinions differ and our understanding falters. Teach us to build our lives around You alone—to let every plan, every thought, every relationship find its place in Your will. Amen.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
