Christian Unity and Doctrinal Uniformity

Our modern culture trumpets diversity, unqualified and undefined, as the ultimate social good and then asserts that all mankind is united and connected; a Disney-like vision of the "Circle of Life". While modern culture provides no basis unity and no substance to the ethereal term "diversity", the Christian Church is united in well-defined and substantive ways and is dependent upon the well-defined and substantive diversity of it's members.

As Ephesians reminds us, we are united in identity since we have one Father. The church is united by "spiritual genetics" in much the same way that siblings are united to each other through being raised in the same family and sharing the same genetic fingerprint. We are also united in purpose since we share in one baptism. The trajectory of every Christian life is toward the glory and honor of God and of building up his kingdom. The church is united in thought since we have one faith. It must be emphasized that faith is first of all cognitive. There is always a substantive content to faith and the content of the Christian faith has been well-defined over the centuries. The sinfulness of man, the just wrath of God on sin and the volitional sacrificial atonement of Christ are central elements of this faith and all Christians must, but definition, confess these elements as true. In these ways then, unity is indeed dependent upon uniformity or sameness. All Christians have the same Father but to the extent that they fight against their purpose in life and to the extent that a Christian is alienated from the objective truth of scripture they are to that extent alienated from the body of Christ and unity suffers.

Of course, any attempt to articulate a well-defined core of truth to which all Christians must adhere is doomed to failure. Well-meaning Christians have always, and will always, disagree over issues of faith but it must be remembered that all such "denominations and tribes" are still of one family and are still more tightly united in mind (by confession and belief) than any large non-Christian organization or entity.

Christian unity both allows for and depends upon the diversity of it's members. Not a diversity of identity (since we have one Father) nor in a diversity of belief (since we have one faith) but in a diversity of function (since we have varying gifts). In this way the church is a reflection of the divine economy which exists as one-in-essence but three-in-person. Within the godhead there is a single perfect essence, purpose and unity of mind while there are different roles or functions played by the three persons of the Father, the Son and the Spirit.