Christian (dis-)Unity by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: While I believe in Christ and His forgiveness, I wonder why, when He prayed for our unity in John 17, are we Christians are so fragmented? How do we determine who believes and teaches correctly? A: Disunity is the norm for Christendom, as well among the cults and sects that call themselves Christian but are not. The confusion among various groups claiming to be Christ's Church rivals the confusion following Babel's tower. We shouldn't be surprised that there are problems, for Scripture warns of false teachings and false teachers who grow like cancer in the Body of Christ. Some, especially participants in the "Ecumenical Movement," wrongly consider disunity the greatest scandal of Christianity. But while divisions may be sin-related and troubling within and without, another scandal is primary: The Bible calls the great "Scandal" (or Stumbling Block) the incarnate, crucified, and risen Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:23). God in human flesh, God who dies, dying such an ignoble death---He insults all who don't believe and who face eternal condemnation. There is only one truth. And some who appear to be disunited Christians are actually non- Christians wearing the cloak of the Church. Some churches deny Christ's deity. Some say that Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Ghost are three different gods. Others say that there is one God, but a Trinity in name only, so what He reveals as three persons in Scripture is actually one god wearing three "masks" or personalities. To separate out some of these, examine what they say about Jesus Christ. Then you'll see that some of these churches---even some having "Jesus Christ" or "Christian" in their official name---stand outside the Christian faith. After hearing what others say about Him, ask them, "How do you proclaim Christ's work?" Do they confess Him as Savior of the world (1 John 4:14)? Do they include any other name, any other way, by which people are saved (Acts 4:12)? If they teach that anything or anyone but Jesus paid the full price for our sins, these teachers stand outside the Christian Church. Do they mix faith and works (Ephesians 2:8-9)? Do they proclaim multiple paths to eternal life? True Christianity teaches what Jesus taught: There is one Way, one Truth, one Life---one Way to the Father---and Jesus Christ is It (John 14:6). Other divisions came about through geography, language, or politics. Although this disunity comes because of non-doctrinal barriers, we still have difficulty overcoming them. Thus, many different branches of the Orthodox (Eastern) Church are in full communion with each other. While they don't regularly meet or worship together because of ethnic, linguistic, or geographic differences, they agree on doctrine and practice. The same is true among many Lutherans, Anglicans (Episcopalians) and others. The worst fragmentation occurs in "mainline" Protestantism and its branches. It seems worst in those bodies who emphasize individual relationships with God rather than the unity of the Church and the oneness of the Body of Christ. Among these, style often divides more than substance. If you don't care for the worship style, start your own church. If you dislike the minister, start your own church. Doctrine among these assemblies often is less important than feelings. Finally, how do we (and others) define and teach Christian doctrine? What "essential" doctrines do we refuse to surrender? Are there teachings about which we may disagree? The Bible provides clear teaching about the Lord's Supper, yet differences arise. It speaks of baptismal regeneration, yet many deny that Baptism washes sin away and makes people into Christians through the power of God's holy Word. Even among errorists, while false and confusing teachings divide, they don't always stand in the way of eternal life. Yet these false teachings cause problems in this life and may bring weaker Christians to stumble in their faith. Because of this, true Christians still contend for Christ's truth. A "small" error, left unchecked, won't go away. It grows larger, sending sinful branches in many directions. While we struggle for earthly unity, Christians should never do so at the expense of unity with God and his pure Word. As much as Satan enjoys our current fragmentation, a united "church" believing little of God's truth might please him even more. While difficult, the struggle isn't our own. Christ prayed for the Church's unity in John 17. He continues to this day to mediate on our behalf, sending the Holy Ghost that we might be one as He and His Father are one. God began the reversal of Babel's confusion with the Spirit's coming at Pentecost (Acts 2). The Spirit continues the process of unifying all the sheep under one Shepherd. The completion of this task will not come in time; we await its fullness in eternity. Until then, true believers will continue to "test the spirits" to see if they are truly "from God. (1 John 4:1)" Still, the Holy Ghost continues to be our Guide as we search and compare the Scriptures (Acts 17:10-11), and He will apply the true words of Scripture through faithful pastors and teachers for our great benefit, even if not all listen to them (1 Timothy 4:1-4). Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2002 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. 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