Doesn’t Unity Mean Getting along with Everyone No Matter What?

The Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry exists to teach and promote Christian unity. There are many ways to learn about our ministry, but one that often gets overlooked is our FAQ section. We’ve answered over 90 questions on a variety of topics. Here are just a couple:

Doesn’t “unity” mean getting along with everyone no matter what?

This is one of many critical errors that we hope to help the church correct. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). Even in telling us to try to get along with everyone, Paul qualifies his instruction in two ways. First, it is not always possible, and second, it does not always depend on us. Elsewhere he cautions that peace is not always permissible if it means uniting with unbelievers, the openly immoral, or those who reject God’s truth (2 Corinthians 6:14). So, Christians love all people, even their enemies, and they do their best to be at peace with all people, but they realize that this is not always possible or permissible, nor is it always up to them. Even our Lord did not get along with everyone, though this was not due to any lack of love or hint of unrighteousness. Light and dark, holiness and sin, justice and injustice, love and hate, truth and falsehood—some things are simply incompatible, which is as it should be.

In our resources, you’ll find everything you need to understand what unity is according to the Bible, the kind of unity Christ prayed for in John 17:20–26. To begin, we recommend that you start learning with our John 17 Exegetical Guide or Christian Unity and You, which provides a focused look at how you can live in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can also check out God’s Will for Christian Unity, a comprehensive study of 30 Bible passages revealing God’s expectations for Christian unity.

How is your ministry different than other ecumenical, collaborative efforts?

The Be United in Christ Outreach Ministry is aimed at building a grassroots movement with Christians and pastors in churches and communities all over the world. The ministry is not a gathering place for church leaders and authors, nor do we aim to host conferences. Rather, we provide Biblical resources, guidance, and encouragement for fostering attitudes and actions of unity in the life of every Christian based on the authority of Scripture alone.