Many professing Christians are perfectly willing to admit that they have little or no interest in doctrine. They enjoy speaking and hearing of the story of Christ and the grace of God that was shown in His sacrifice. They desire to learn how to deal with the problems of life and how to be a good moral person. But there is less interest in doctrine because, allegedly, doctrine divides us. So they want to ignore doctrinal differences and unite on the basis of our common faith in Christ. This is the old “unity in diversity” mentality.

When we speak of ignoring doctrinal differences, what exactly does that mean? This may be a little hard to define, but things like the work, worship, and organization of the church would be considered matters of doctrine. Teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage would be doctrine. How the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian would considered doctrine. It seems as though almost anything that has the potential of causing division among those who believe in Christ is labeled as doctrine.
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Unity is one of the predominant themes of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In the second chapter, he wrote of the unity between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22). Historically, there was hostility between these two groups, but Jesus came and “made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14). They were reconciled in “one body” (Ephesians 2:16). Earlier, Paul indicated that this body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus did not establish a church of the Jews and another church of the Gentiles. He built one church (cf. Matthew 16:18). All men who will be faithful to Him “are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).

The fourth chapter also addresses the subject of unity. Paul instructed the brethren to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). He wrote of one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father (Ephesians 4:4-6). A few verses later he mentioned different “offices” in the church (Ephesians 4:11) that were in place for “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). The goal of this was that we might “attain to the unity of the faith” (Ephesians 4:13).
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