God desires unity among His people. We are not meant to aim for unity by compromising with one another and finding some middle ground on biblical issues. We are meant to deny ourselves and follow Him, which usually means putting aside our desires or feelings and seeking to do His will to the best of our ability.
I made a couple diagrams here to help illustrate a point. Imagine that the realm of following God is a sphere. Every person or group is somewhere on the sphere. Some are closer to God’s truth than others. Some are closer to one another than others. It is safe to say that most reasonable people would love to have unity/agreement about biblical things such as: how to worship, how to live, and what to teach about God.
Many people in search of such unity, attempt to achieve it by “meeting in the middle,” i.e. compromising in order to do what each one can come to some type of agreement on (see image 1 “Seeking Unity Through Compromise”). This approach often includes a great deal of “agreeing to disagree” and voluntary ignorance of certain differences. There is also much acceptance of almost any practices.
Unfortunately, such an approach does not lead closer to God. Neither does it necessarily lead purposefully away from God. Rather, it mostly disregards the truth that comes from God entirely. Be cautious of those who challenge the truth of God in favor of their perceived unity.
The second image here (“Seeking God Brings Unity”) highlights an attempt to show the result of seeking God first, and allowing unity to come through Him. When we deny ourselves and follow God, training ourselves to accept His word above our own desire at every turn, we grow closer to God. When others do the same, then we are blessed to grow closer to them as well.
We are blessed to see this take place often when we worship with others who, though imperfect, strive wholeheartedly to follow God and His Word. We can be united even though we may think or act differently in some ways, because our priority—our focus—our heading is set toward Him through the Word He has breathed to us. The bond we are then blessed to feel with others whose headings are also set on Him is so pure and blessed.
I am grateful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who set their compass on Christ.
V
‘I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.’
— Ephesians 4:1-6
‘I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.’
— 1 Corinthians 1:10