“We Want Unity, Not the Word!”

Introduction

There is a thought within the religious world that, based on certain biblical passages, teaches that Christians should be united regardless of their religious beliefs. It’s as if they say, “We want unity, not the Word!” It is common to witness people who discover biblical truths and want to share them with others from their denominations. However, as soon as they begin to spread their beliefs, other brothers and sisters try to stop them, attempting to convince them that this attitude does not bear good fruit. They argue that it could sow doubt in the minds of others and lead them to lose their faith. For them, the most important thing is to live love and maintain unity in the same spirit.

The Problem

This type of argument, along with others like it, hinders the spreading of truth to all people and delays the return of our Lord, according to the text in Acts 3:18-19.

“And He [God] shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:20-21

Indeed, Christians must be united in one spirit, as we can read in the words of the Apostle Paul: “… that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). However, this unity should not abort the study of the Word of God in search of precious truths. If we act or say “We want Unity,” but at the same time are not grounded in the Word, we will certainly be wrong!

I have seen many churches set aside Bible study, focusing only on emotionalism, songs, and entertainment, while the knowledge of the truth remains far from the minds of their members. Even after years in their churches, many faithful cannot open the Bible on their own to give a Bible study to someone or answer questions they receive. Their knowledge does not go beyond what they hear from others speaking in their churches, knowledge that is often made up of traditions and doctrines of men (Matthew 15:9).

What Does It Mean to Be United in the Word?

In the book Patriarchs and Prophets, page 520, written by Ellen White, we find the following quote:

“While we should not sacrifice a single principle of truth, it must be our constant aim to attain that state of unity. This is the proof of our discipleship.” – PP, page 520

To be united with our brothers and sisters, even though we may have different faiths, without ceasing to preach the truth. No matter the persecution, this must be our behavior before the world. We need to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), both in deeds and in the knowledge of the Word. We should say “We want Unity” only in this sense!

Jesus left us the example, where He always preached the truth to people, whether He was in the open air or even inside the temple. His enemies persecuted Him, but the truth prevailed in His lips. If we have the same spirit as Christ, we will act as He did, being patient and loving toward people, and teaching the truth.

Conclusion: We Want Unity

May we be united in spirit with one another, but also that the Word of the Lord may be fulfilled in our lives. Let us be sanctified in obedience to the Lord’s will, expressed in His Word: