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Avoiding Discord: The Unity Creed's Call to Love Without Division

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

May 30, 2026

2 min read

discord
Two hands reaching toward each other in reconciliation with white doves, symbolizing Christian love without division

The New Testament is remarkably direct about the danger of those who cause divisions within the Body of Christ. Paul warns in Romans 16:17: 'I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.' The Unity Creed echoes this apostolic counsel: believers should avoid discord and those that cause divisions within the Body of Christ.

What Is Discord?

Discord is not the same as honest disagreement. Two believers who disagree about a theological question, discuss it openly, and maintain love and respect for each other are not in discord - they are doing theology together. Discord arises when disagreement becomes personal attack, when legitimate correction becomes factionalism, when someone's identity becomes bound up in being against other Christians rather than for Christ.

The Creed also mentions grumbling and complaining as threats to unity. Philippians 2:14 instructs believers to 'do everything without grumbling or arguing.' This is not a command to suppress legitimate grievances. It is a call to address problems directly and redemptively rather than through the corrosive habit of complaint that poisons community life without solving anything.

The Alternative: Unconditional Love

The Creed's antidote to discord is not merely conflict avoidance. It is unconditional love. This is the love Jesus commanded when He said 'Love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12). The standard is not 'love those who agree with you' or 'love those who treat you well.' It is the love that Christ himself showed - self-giving, costly, patient with failure, persistent through offense.

The Command and the Desire of Jesus

The Unity Creed describes love as 'a command and a desire that Jesus had for His disciples.' This dual framing is important. It is a command: Jesus expects it of those who follow Him. It is also a desire: Jesus longs for His people to experience the harmony and joy that genuine love produces. He does not merely legislate the form of unity; He yearns for its reality. This should give urgency to our pursuit of it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Unity Creed and who wrote it?

The Unity Creed is a modern ecumenical statement of faith designed to unite Christians across denominational lines around core gospel commitments. It was authored to call the global church to love-driven cooperation without requiring uniformity on secondary theological issues. The creed draws on the historic tradition of ecumenical creeds while addressing contemporary divisions within Christianity.

How does the Unity Creed approach doctrinal differences between denominations?

The Unity Creed distinguishes between foundational doctrines essential to Christian identity and secondary matters where believers may legitimately disagree. Rather than flattening all theological differences, it calls Christians to maintain charitable dialogue and cooperative mission across those differences. This approach reflects the Reformation principle of 'in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.'

What does the Bible teach about Christian unity and avoiding division?

Scripture consistently calls believers to pursue unity grounded in truth and love. Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that his followers would be one as he and the Father are one, so the world might believe. Paul warned against divisive factions in 1 Corinthians 1 and urged the Ephesians to maintain 'the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Ephesians 4:3).

Is the Unity Creed compatible with Reformed and confessional Christianity?

The Unity Creed is designed to be compatible with Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, and other confessional traditions by focusing on core Trinitarian and christological convictions. Confessional Christians can affirm its central affirmations while continuing to hold their particular confessional standards for their own communions. The creed functions as a basis for inter-church cooperation rather than a replacement for more detailed confessional documents.

Why do churches divide and how can unity be restored?

Church divisions arise from a complex mixture of genuine doctrinal disagreement, cultural difference, personality conflict, and sin. The Reformation itself produced necessary separations over the gospel, yet subsequent centuries saw divisions multiply far beyond those essential issues. Restoring unity requires both honest acknowledgment of real differences and a willingness to prioritize gospel mission over secondary disputes, as the Unity Creed advocates.

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