Hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf, that by our oneness we might witness to the world – “that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

What is the foundation for this spiritual oneness?   Does Godly accord preclude divergence within His Church?  How do we properly address divergence so as to build and preserve the vital unity of faith within the Body of Christ? 

Christian Doctrine: The Biblical Foundation

Shared doctrine is essential for unity.  Further, the establishment of doctrine is a prerequisite to identifying any teaching or practice as deviant.  Mercifully, in His abundant lovingkindness, God codifies for us the doctrines which govern genuine Christianity:

Jesus Christ affirmed “'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD,'" attesting that “the Scripture cannot be broken.”

Moreover, Christ warned against any who would attempt to negate God’s written Word:

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.  Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5:17-19)

Similarly, the apostle Paul affirmed the validity of Scripture to those in his care:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.  (Ephesians 2:19-22)

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.  (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Thus, God’s Church recognizes that the entire Bible embodies its doctrine.  The Bible is the holy and inspired Word of God – the ultimate and prevailing authority for the Church’s doctrine and conduct.

Accepting Divergence

Nevertheless, the Bible establishes that there are some minor divergences from Christian doctrine which are to be tolerated within the Church.  Eating of meat and drinking of wine are cases in point. 

In such matters, Scripture emphasizes two aspects of acceptance incumbent upon non-divergent Christians.  These dual Christian responses are: a willing sacrifice of personal liberties, and a respectful forbearance toward the conscience of the weak.

Sacrifice of Personal Liberty

In those matters where divergence is to be tolerated within the Church, Christians must be willing to forego the exercise of rightful Christian liberties, in order to avoid distressing the weak:

Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.  It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.  (Romans 14:20-22)

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."  (Romans 15:1-3)

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.  (1 Corinthians 8:13)

And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!  (Matthew 18:5-7)

In the practice of Christianity, the benefit of our brothers and sisters in the faith must prevail over the exercise of our own Christian liberty!

Respect for Conscience

Whether or not our weaker fellow’s conscience dictates that we forego our own Christian liberties, there are nevertheless matters of doctrinal divergence in which we must be sincerely respectful of the conscience of one who is weak:

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. … But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. … The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.  (Romans 14:1-4, 10-13, 22-23)

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME."  (Romans 15:1-3)

And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  (1 Corinthians 8:12)

Patient, courteous respect must be the guiding rule when we bear the weaknesses of new believers and others whose personal opinions impact their exercise of Christian liberty.

Confronting Divergence: The Requirement for Righteousness

On the other hand, the Bible leaves no doubt that in matters of sin and righteousness, Christian doctrine and practice must be maintained within the Church, both individually and collectively:

But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.  (1 Corinthians 11:16)

And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  (Ephesians 5:11-12) 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  (Titus 2:11-14)

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."  (2 Timothy 2:19)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  (Matthew 5:48)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  (Matthew 6:33)

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.  But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  (2 Corinthians 11:2-3)

Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.  (1 John 3:7-10)

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.  (Matthew 7:5)

Thus, we see that there is no place for unrighteous teaching or conduct within God’s Church.  Conscience can be given no quarter for unrighteousness.  What then, is the Biblical process which Christ established for discipline within His Body? 

Christian Discipline 

The First Step: Approaching a Brother 

Accompanying the accountability for ordering our individual spiritual house, comes the Biblical duty to be our brother’s keeper, which includes humbly and privately intervening when there is ongoing sin:

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  (Matthew 18:15)

Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:1-2)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.  (James 5:19-20)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.  (Jude 1:20-23)

Jude’s words above emphasize the eternal rescue that Christian intervention can accomplish.  Although daunting, most of us would consider it a precious opportunity to save a loved one from the ravages of a burning building.  How much greater then, is the imperative to attempt to rescue our brother or sister in the faith from the devastation of permanent death in the lake of fire? 

The Second Step: Approaching with Witnesses

If the initial approach to a sinning fellow within the Church proves unsuccessful, the Bible requires that we make a second attempt, bringing along one or two upstanding Church members to serve as witnesses – not necessarily as witnesses of the sin itself, but as witnesses to the performance of the process (Compare Ruth 4:1-12).

But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.  (2 Corinthians 13:1)

This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.  (2 Corinthians 13:1)

In this step, it may be particularly helpful for the one or two additional witnesses to be persons who would be considered neutral and are respected by the sinning individual.

The Third Step: Enlisting the Aid of the Church

If there is not positive resolution after approaching a sinning fellow within the Church, privately and then with additional witnesses, the aid of the Church should be enlisted.  (It is understood that the counsel of the Church would be enlisted at the outset of any crisis situation.):

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  (Matthew 18:17)

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?  (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

Clearly, the Church has a duty and an unavoidable accountability to adjudicate righteousness and justice within the Body, both in individual conduct and in the resolution of interpersonal disputes.

Due Process

Any ecclesiastical disciplinary actions by the Church must be undertaken according to the Biblical principles of due process.  As the verses below will substantiate, adjudicating righteousness and Christian justice entails each of the following:

·        Clear communication of Scripturally-based behavioral expectations.

·        Honest, sincere effort toward objective judgment.

·        Multiple witnesses where commission of an act(s) is contested.

·        Opportunity for the accused to contest the claims of “witnesses.”

·        Thorough investigation of the material facts.

God’s instructions are quite clear:

Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. "Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. (Exodus 18:19-22)

A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.  If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days.  And the judges shall investigate thoroughly; and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.  (Deuteronomy 19:15-19) 

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.  (1Timothy 5:19)

The Church must not ignore or diminish these Scriptural imperatives.  Biblical due process lies at the core of “justice” – that which Christ lists first among the weightier matters of divine law.

Suspension from Fellowship

When the exercise of due process unhappily confirms blatant and/or ongoing sin of word or conduct, suspension from fellowship must be invoked. 

One of the saddest responsibilities which a minister of Jesus Christ must administer is the suspension of a straying brother.  However, despite the personal sadness, a true shepherd will carry out his duty, seeking the eternal benefit of all concerned above temporary ease.

It is vital that expressions of loving exhortation toward the sinning individual should accompany suspension from fellowship; however, all social/recreational association between the sinning individual and other members of the Church must be suspended:

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.  (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.  (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.  (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.  (Romans 16:17-19)

Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.  (Titus 3:10-11)

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.  (2 John 1:10-11)

Suspension from fellowship is anguishing for all concerned; nevertheless, when sin persists, suspension must be lovingly administered – for the spiritual preservation of God’s Church collectively and for the eternal benefit of the errant individual.

Unrighteous  Exclusion

Tragically, there are times when wolves or wolfish shepherds rise up among Christ’s sheep, creating a miserable situation where those who are supposedly overseeing the unity of the Faith are instead destroying that unity!  The apostle Paul warned the elders at Ephesus against such a despicable turn of events:

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.  (Acts 20:28-30)

While some perverse ministers leave the Church, seeking to draw away followers after them, other impenitent pastors continue to operate within the Church, for as long as God allows.  Often, Church leaders who are unrepentant will react against faithful brethren, sometimes even maliciously or defensively suspending sincere and devout Christians from God’s Church.  The apostle John struggled against just such a minister – the ambitious Diotrephes, who deliberately renounced support for visiting laborers in the Work of the Gospel.  John relates:

I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.  For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church.  (3 John 1:9-10)

Helpfully, in this same account, John guides us to understand how faithful brethren should respond in such cases, where brethren are unjustly suspended from the fellowship of the Church.  Here, Diotrephes, their minister, was ordering Christians to reject fellow laborers in the Gospel.  Diotrephes was even putting out any Christians who dared to help them. 

Yet despite the likelihood of bringing punishment upon themselves, the apostle John exhorts faithful Christians to disregard the unjust commands of their minister, and instead to receive and to support these same brethren that their minister was ordering them to renounce:

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers [guests]; and they bear witness to your love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.  For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.  Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.  (3 John 1:5-8)

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.  (3 John 1:11)

Thus, we see that when sincere and upright brethren are unjustly suspended from the fellowship of the Church, faithful Christians must disregard these unrighteous suspension(s), and continue extending fellowship – comforting and supporting their brethren – and looking to God for ultimate deliverance from any retribution. 

Hope for Restoration

The final spiritual outcome of every human being lies in the hands of Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has delegated all judgment (John 5:22).  Although all Christians must recognize and repudiate sinful practices and those who perpetrate them, the Church does not presume to judge the final spiritual fate of any sinning brother:

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.  (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Thus, all discipline within the Church must be carried out with the fervent hope of restoration:

In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.  (2 Corinthians 2:6-8)

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.  (1 Timothy 1:20) 

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.  (2 Thessalonians 3:15)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back,  let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.  (James 5:19-20)

How can love cover a multitude of sins?  Here above, James shows us a way – we cover a multitude of sins by lovingly turning a straying brother or sister back to God’s truth, thereby saving our fellow Christian from eternal death.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."  Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.  Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.  (2 Timothy 2: 19-21)

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.  (Hebrews 12:11)

What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'  (Luke 15:4-6)

True shepherds do not “write off” lost sheep. The Church’s ministry must continue to pursue the reinstatement of any sheep who strays. 

And what joy abounds at God’s throne and in His Church upon the repentance of an errant Christian who is restored to repentance!  Jesus asserts, "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 

The Broader Context

As important as they are, neither doctrine nor discipline alone are relevant apart from a larger context.  The following passages of Scripture offer us a brief glimpse into the Biblical context of Christian doctrine, helping us to appreciate the necessity for preserving vital unity within the Body of Christ:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us.  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.  (1 John 4:16-5:3)

God our Savior … desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (1Timothy 2:3-4)

As John, the apostle of love, observes above for our benefit: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.” 

In our modern cultures, most have this backwards, misguidedly placing “love of brother” ahead of love of God.  Many – even some within God’s Church – have been seduced by this Satanic distortion, to the point of discarding the Biblical precept of Church discipline.  Rejecting the clear commands of Christ, they argue instead for the acceptance of all sorts of vile behaviors, all in the name of “Christian tolerance” or “brotherly love.” 

However, as John reiterates for us, the first great commandment, identified by Jesus Christ, remains first.  Without first loving God and observing His commandments, we are left spiritually clueless as to how to correctly define genuine, real, and true love for our fellow man. 

Obedience to God is the window through which we come to understand how to love our brother, and to understand which actions constitute genuine love. 

Only through genuine Godly love, founded in obedience to Him, can we experience the unity of the Faith – that spiritual oneness for which Christ so fervently prayed to the Father on our behalf.

Indeed, as is evident by God’s incalculable grace toward all of us, our Father is love, and His commandments – His doctrines – are not burdensome.