Church Unity

“I wish we didn’t have other options,” my husband lamented.

“Sure, but before, you were either excommunicated, exiled, or executed.”

We were processing, yet again, the pain we experienced in church contexts. David wishes there weren’t other churches to choose from. He wishes we had the force of “no other options” behind the work of reconciliation instead of simply finding another congregation. 

We left three churches in three years and still feel the loss. In 2021, we left the first church after 12 years due to relational impasses and changing theological convictions; the second when we moved to another town in 2022; the third to get out from under a highly controlling authoritarian system. After that, we stayed home most Sunday mornings for the next nine months, finally landing in an episcopal church (I’m just as surprised as anyone).

Yes, you’re right. It doesn’t look like a great track record on our part. Someone once posed the question, “Do you just want to be hurt?” I understand where that comes from. Are we wearing our pain as a badge of honor on our sleeves, using it as an excuse to justify our actions? I certainly don’t want to, though I confess it’s hard not to flinch every time someone in leadership raises their hand. Did we try to be reconciled? As some have said to me, longer than most would have. Are we blameless? Certainly not. Would we have done things differently? Yes. Would we still have left? Probably.

In early adulthood, it was easy to lament the fact that there were so many denominations seemingly birthed out of irreconcilable differences and the desire for doctrinal purity. One denomination sees Martin Luther as a hero, the other, as a schismatic. Some see the formation of the Anglican Church in North America as a great triumph in biblical faithfulness; others feel dismayed and betrayed. Moreover, there have been factions in the church from day one. Should we just accept this fact and continue our divisions? And personally, are we just playing the game? Could you accuse us of “dating the church” as some have retorted? I hold these thorny questions close.

The truth is, before the glut of denominations, you could be excommunicated, exiled, or executed when you disagreed with the powers that be. St. Athanasius, now recognized as one of the greatest theologians in church history , was banished five times and spent 17 years of his life in exile because he insisted on the full deity of Christ against the powerful Arians of his day (Arians believed that Christ was a creature, albeit the most powerful). He was on the right side of doctrine, the wrong side of power.

It has been said, “Doctrine divides; love unites.” Others far more learned have taken up this statement and have landed clearly on one side or the other. I suppose this statement itself is a divisive one!

“Whoever is not against us is for us.”

“Whoever is not with me is against me.”

….said Jesus according to the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, respectively. For, against, with…These statements live uncomfortably within me. 

Jesus both divides and unites. He said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34)” and also prayed that those who believe in him would be one. On top of this, there are countless pleas in the epistles for unity among believers.  Adding to this, the wisest man in the world said there is “a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” Sometimes, partings are a statement of judgment; sometimes, they are temporary. It takes wisdom to discern the situation and the season. I don’t always know where to draw those lines. All I can do is pray for the wisdom to steward well what I have been given for the sake of the expansion of Christ’s Kingdom for God’s Glory. That means looking for a proper context, the best soil, for the seeds with which I’ve been entrusted to grow.

Going back to Athanasius, he is said to have penned the words of one of the historic creeds of the church, found here: Athanasian Creed. He references the catholic faith, using that same same “small c” catholic word that’s also in the more ubiquitous Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds oft recited in churches throughout the centuries and the world. We state that we believe in “one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” That’s a mouthful to say and a hard theological line to swallow. Can I believe in this “one” church? I think so, but its unity may look a lot different than I imagined.

I think I am glad we have denominations; otherwise, a lot more blood might have been spilled over differences that need not be divisive of the mission to spread the gospel. For the purists, we don’t need to insert heresy into every controversy. For the placative, we don’t have to compromise everything to avoid controversy. The man casting out demons in Jesus’ name wasn’t tied at the hip with Jesus’ inner circle much to the chagrin of his disciples. It didn’t seem to bother Jesus. I don’t have to be with those I am not against, to use Jesus’ words. Our “irreconcilable” differences need not peg us as enemies, but as brothers in arms fighting on different fronts against our real foes, Sin, Death, and Satan.

Can Satan use our differences to distract us? Absolutely. Denominational divides aren’t praiseworthy. I venture to say they can be amiable compromises at best, like Paul and Barnabas agreeing to disagree and part ways. We can still have unity in diversity both in the local congregation and that blessed “holy, catholic, and apostolic” church for which Jesus died. Afterall, Jesus is still interceding for his church. I am certain that his prayer for unity will be answered in the positive despite my best, or my worst, efforts.