Jesus PRAYED for UNITY: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You...” (Jn. 17:20-21a).

Jesus PAID for UNITY: “...that He might reconcile them both [Jew and non-Jew] to God in one body through the cross…” (Eph. 2:16; see Gal. 3:28).

Jesus SAID of UNITY that it helps others believe: “...that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jn. 17:21b; see 13:35).

However, there is some “UNITY” which DIVIDES. Some sincere efforts to promote unity produce division instead.

UNITY in denominations DIVIDES. To promote unity, some sincere people unite with others in denominations. But every denomination is one more division among people who believe in Christ.

When used in reference to religion, the word “denomination” usually refers to a group of churches organized together in a special association. They often have regional and national officers, conventions in which delegates vote, a creed or constitution, and a man-made name. By gathering a large number of churches and members into one organization, they gain a great feeling of unity among themselves.

But when churches unite together into a special association, that very act divides them away from all other churches. For example, churches in a Baptist Association are not part of a Pentecostal Association. Churches in a Catholic Diocese are not part of a Methodist Association. In the same way, the people who are in denominations are divided from members of other denominations.

Jesus DIED for ONE CHURCH: “...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25; see Acts 20:28). He died for His church by dying for all of its parts — for all of its members.

Jesus PROMISED to build ONE CHURCH: “...I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18) — one church, not different churches wearing different names and teaching different doctrines (see 1 Cor. 1:10).

Jesus BUILT only ONE CHURCH: “...you were called in one body…” (Col. 3:15; see Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; Col. 1:18). When a sinner is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27), God puts him or her into the church (Acts 2:41, 47). So, the saved people are the church of Christ. He continues building His church by adding new Christians as “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:4-5).

In the first century A. D., there were “churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16) in many places. They were not different denominations. Each local church was UNITED with all others by holding to the same word of God as their only guide in matters of faith (Jn. 12:48; Jude 3; Gal. 1:6-8; Eph. 4:5; Phil. 1:27; 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:16-4:5). Each local church was also INDEPENDENT. There were no denominations or organized groups of churches. In each church, two or more of its own men were to be appointed as overseers, according to qualifications in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9. They were called “elders” (presbyters), “bishops” (overseers), and “pastors” (shepherds) (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Eph. 4:11).

Most people will not follow Christ (Matt. 7:13-14). But YOU and I CAN! We must do our part for unity by going back to the Bible. We must become simply “Christians” by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16). Then, we must follow the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice.

— Royce Frederick