THE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS BOTH A TRUTH MOVEMENT AND A UNITY MOVEMENT

The church is a fellowship on the move, a truth movement dedicated to unity, and a unity movement dedicated to the Truth. As the cherished hymn says, “What a fellowship!” However, if we are true, we must indeed be a movement: moving in truth towards greater unity. 

But what does it mean to be a truth AND unity movement? It’s easier to be one or the other, but both? 

Briefly, it means truth, as revealed through Christ by the Holy Spirit in Scripture (John 17:17), is held to be essential (John 18:37; Rom 1:18, 2:8; 2 Cor 13:8; Gal 2:14; Eph 4:15, 21, 25; Col 1:5; 2 Thes 2:10, 12; 1 Tim 2:4, 3:15, 4:3, 6:5; 2 Tim 2:18, 3:7-8, 4:4; Titus 1:1; Jas 5:19; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 1:6, 8, 2:4, 21; 2 John 4) foundation of Christianity. Though exhaustive agreement on every point of Scripture isn’t realistic in this age, comprehensive agreement on the essential foundations of the Faith is a no-compromise issue (Rom 14; 1 Cor 1:10; 2 John 9–11). Those who will not be bound by essential Christian doctrine are not recognized as genuine followers of Christ (1 John 2:19) and, thus, do not represent actual Christians in disunity but false Christians planted among us by the Enemy (Matt 13:24–30) to deceive the ignorant and complicate the church’s mission so that accomplishing it is delayed.  

There are “weightier matters” and lighter ones, “gnats” and “camels” (Matt 23:23–24). If we demand that everyone must agree about everything, we’re a truth movement (maybe even a legalistic one), but not a unity movement. Unity will be impossible based on the idea that exhaustive agreement is essential unless and until all believers are equally faithful, knowledgeable, and mature. That will never happen if children are still being born and new believers are still being converted. So, if we’re obeying the Great Commission (which is essential), we will not have total agreement on every issue. It is, therefore, by implication, essential that Christians be able to disagree about the less important issues without splitting the fellowship. That’s what Romans 14 is about in a nutshell.

However, if we shrug off the essentiality of believing and obeying the straightforward commandments of the Lord and heeding His expressly stated warnings in pursuit of union with a broader slice of humanity—while this may be tempting and seem like love—we're a unity movement, not a truth movement, and in the end, will prove not to be genuinely love or unity (1 Cor 13:6). As frustratingly difficult as it may prove to be equally devoted to truth AND unity so that we seek unity through the essential truth of the gospel (Gal 2:5) and agree to discuss and debate the rest of Scripture peacefully, that’s what we must commit ourselves to, patiently, humbly, diligently, until the Lord returns, trusting in His Providence to give us growing success. 

Remember, the apostle Paul has warned us, "For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized" (1 Corinthians 11:19 ESV). This verse needs unpacking:

What 1 Corinthians 11:19 explicitly says:

(1) Groups among Christians separated by disagreements exist and will exist.

(2) Some of these groups are not genuine Christians, and some are.

(3) It's possible to recognize the difference and thus know whether a group is genuinely Christian.

What 1 Corinthians 11:19 necessarily implies:

(4) Scripture reveals identifiable characteristics of true Christians and true churches.

(5) By identifying these characteristics and measuring Christians and churches by them, we distinguish genuine Christians and churches from false ones. 

Supposing my reasoning is correct, and 1 Corinthians 11:19 necessarily implies points 4 and 5. In that case, we need to search the Scriptures, especially the New Testament (since it's the Testament under which we live in this age), to learn how to recognize the “genuine" followers of Jesus. (We still believe in and acknowledge the authority of the Old Testament as fulfilled through the ministry of Christ, Luke 24:27; 1 Cor 14:34; 2 Tim 3:16–17, but since we don’t live under the Law of Moses anymore, Gal 3–4; Heb 9–10, we don't "fully" live under its authority anymore.) So, what the New Testament says about Christians and the church must be the key to distinguishing genuine Christians and churches from false. 

Here are the marks of the true church as many of my forefathers and contemporaries in the churches of Christ (descended from the Restoration Movement) have preached them:

(1) The Name: "Church of Christ" (or other explicitly biblical designations like "Church of God," "The Way," "Disciples," "Church of the Firstborn," "the Church," etc.) reflects the authority and ownership of Christ over the church. The name should come directly from Scripture. The names of post-biblical leaders (Luther, Menno Simons, etc.) aren't legitimate designations for the true church. 

(2) Worship in Spirit and Truth: A cappella (vocal only) singing (rejecting instrumental music based on the absence of its command or example in New Testament worship practices).

(3) The Lord's Supper every Sunday, as per the example in Acts 20:7.

(4) Prayer: Communal and individual prayer is a vital part of worship.

(5) Teaching/Preaching: The centrality of teaching from the Bible, focusing on the New Testament for Christian practice.

(6) Baptism for the Remission of Sins: Baptism by immersion is an essential act of faith for salvation and, thus, for membership in the church.

(7) Autonomy of Local Congregations: Each congregation is autonomous, governed by its own elders (biblically qualified), deacons, and the collective decision-making of members, with no external hierarchy.

(8) The Restoration Principle: Commitment to restoring the New Testament church in faith, practice, and organization, rejecting creeds and traditions not found in Scripture—a plea for unity based on the Bible alone.

(9) Church Discipline: The practice of corrective discipline for members who fall into sin, aimed at repentance, restoration, and maintaining purity.

(10) Non-Denominationalism: Rejection of denominationalism—the true church is undivided and should reflect the unity in the New Testament.

(11) The Silence of the Scriptures: Where the scriptures are silent, the church should be silent; practices not authorized by scripture are not to be incorporated into the church's worship or organization.

—I agree with all these points, but not all are on the same level of essential/fundamental. All 11 are well-established by commands, approved examples, and implications in the New Testament. Still, along with Thomas Campbell (as communicated in the Declaration and Address of 1809), I don’t regard examples and implications as having the same level of authority as commandments and warnings of judgment. Every word in Scripture is authoritative (Matt 4:4), but some things are more important than others (Matt 23:23–24). Straightforward commands and warnings are essentials. The rest is as essential as everyone’s conscience understands them to be. Not everyone is equally capable of recognizing implications clearly, so just because I infer the Scriptures to authorize (or even to require) something doesn’t mean someone who doesn’t see that implication is necessarily a false brother. We cannot bind any doctrine on the whole church as essential to salvation that isn’t based on a commandment, warning of judgment, or conditional statement (John 8:24, for example). Some of the above are absolutes/essentials/fundamentals based on commands, and others are convictions that most members of the churches of Christ share because we’ve communally recognized the same implications. So, we’re bound by conscience to practice the Faith in some ways that keep us from being able to worship with clean consciences with some other groups who do not recognize the same implications as us. We’re forbidden to “pronounce judgment” where the Lord (in Scripture) hasn’t already pronounced it (1 Cor 4:5). That said, all the above marks are established to one degree or another by biblical authority. Regarding #11, I prefer specificity over silence, but I agree with the mark as worded. So, I am convicted to live by all the above and cannot in good conscience have full fellowship with those who do not practice the above. I won’t practice anything in Christian assembly or as an expression of Christian organization (i.e., church) for which I cannot find reasonable authorization in Scripture. Why? Read on. 

Here's why I am committed to doing only what Scripture authorizes (especially in church, where differences of conviction are unavoidably divisive). It's because of Jesus' example, and following His example is a matter of explicit commandment (Eph 5:1; John 10:30; 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21). Christ is our example. We follow His example. Following Christ is what makes someone a true "Christ"-ian! 

So, notice how Jesus decided what He would and wouldn't do:

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:28–32 ESV, emph. mine)

Jesus didn't do anything on His own authority. He never presumed something was acceptable to God without a word from God on it. Presuming practices for which you cannot produce clear biblical authority are pleasing to God isn’t imitating Christ! 

After making this clear, Jesus commands those of us who follow Him to abide in His word as He abode in His Father's. The genuine believer and genuine church can pass the biblical authority test for all its teachings and practices, and it's not asking too much or being legalistic to suggest this is the test of genuineness. What other test could there be? I don’t mean anyone does it all perfectly. Still, all genuine Christ-followers and churches must be committed to obeying Christ alone and no other authority, and there’s no way to do that genuinely other than to follow Scripture. Remember, the test of genuineness does not equate to pronouncing a final judgment about "heaven or hell." It's simply a clear way to discern genuine from questionable Christians and churches to keep clean consciences and certainty about the work we're trying to do to advance the kingdom's mission. 

Here's how I communicate the distinctive marks of genuineness. It's like the above but, in my opinion, hermeneutically cleaner.

(1) No creed but Christ, no creedbook but the Bible. 

• Sola Scriptura: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria. 
• Embracing Christ as our Creed (John 14:6) means understanding God as He has revealed Himself through the gospel: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Son as uniquely God and Man united in the one person Who is our Lord—born of the virgin, sinless, died and raised bodily, ascended into heaven, returning as Judge. Recognizing the Scriptures teach baptism as an essential part of the plan of salvation and the point one is biblically recognizable as a Christian does not violate any of the “solas.” 
• Baptism is an expression of grace through faith, not an addition to them. 
• Protestant and Catholic, and yet neither. 
• Certainty: “Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. ... You should do these things so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 4:11 ICB). If anything other than God’s word is the basis for your faith and practice, it’s not from or for God’s glory. 

(2) One universal undenominatable church under the absolute authority of One Head, Jesus, made up of all faithful, penitent, baptized (immersed) believers everywhere, in fellowship as autonomous local churches, organized as shepherds, servants, and members, all of whom are saints called to ministry as the priesthood of all believers.

(3) Dedicated to Growing in the Obedience of Faith: “Walking” in the good works God prepared beforehand that we should “walk” in, struggling to overcome sin, and worshiping “in spirit and truth,” which, whatever else it means, must at least mean according to the truth of Scripture [(a) not forsaking weekly assembly on the Lord’s Day for (b) communion, (c) giving, the (d) preaching of the word, (e) prayers, (f) singing vocally, and (g) mutual edification (teaching, encouragement, and accountability].

(4) Fulfilling the Great Commission: “Make disciples” (Matt 28:18–20); “preach the good news” (Mark 16:15–16); “proclaim repentance & forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name” (Luke 24:47); “forgive and withhold forgiveness” (John 20:23); “be His witnesses” (Acts 1:8); no compromise with the world (Eph 5:11—no syncretism, no tolerance of its ways among us—1 Cor 5:13); no relenting in carrying out our mission, no price too high to pay in bearing our own crosses (Rev 2:10), no fear (Matt 10:28), no failure (Rom 8:31, 37)—hastening the coming of The Day of the Lord (2 Pet 3:13).

Most of the above is focused on the "truth" part of unity through truth. The unity part flows from truth and must be based on it. No truth, no unity, because trust comes from truth. Without trust, there is only division. So, without sacrificing any of the absolutes or our convictions from Scripture that are essential to keeping clean consciences before the Lord, we've got to be "building bridges" between us and those with whom we disagree and who love Jesus so that we’re moving in the direction of restoring unity. We need to join hands in fellowship in good works we agree about. There is a place for discerning the genuine from the false in sectarian terms (Acts 24:5, 24:14, 28:22). However, if our only way is sectarian, we’re confirming the division as members of a truth movement only and not a unity movement. We need an issues-focused pathway to build bridges to restore unity that was destroyed by past disagreements. 

With this in mind, I want to share the nine marks of the 9Marks organization associated with biblically conservative Baptist churches. Disclaimer: I don’t know how the organization elaborates on any of these points, but having heard of it, I went to the site to see their nine marks. 

(1) Expositional Preaching - This involves preaching that exposes the meaning of the biblical text, making the main point of the passage the main point of the sermon.

(2) Biblical Theology - Emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine, where the church's teachings align with the whole counsel of Scripture.

(3) The Gospel - A clear understanding and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the central message of the church.

(4) Conversion - The church recognizes the need for genuine conversion, where individuals repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation.

(5) Evangelism - The church actively shares the gospel, seeking to bring others to faith in Christ.

(6) Church Membership - Understanding the importance of formal church membership, where believers commit to one another in the local church.

(7) Church Discipline - The practice of correcting sin within the church, aiming for restoration and the purity of the church.

(8) Discipleship - The process of helping believers grow in maturity, knowledge, and obedience to Christ.

(9) Biblical Church Leadership - Leadership in the church should be qualified according to biblical standards, typically elders who shepherd the church.

Here's what the 9Marks folks say about themselves on their website: Who We Are: “At 9Marks, we help pastors, future pastors, and church members see what a biblical church looks like and take practical steps for becoming one. Our goal is to see churches characterized by nine biblical marks of a healthy church. Why these nine? Because sadly, they’re too often assumed or ignored in evangelical churches.”

Good. Not perfect, in my opinion, but not bad. It definitely reflects movement I can respect as in support of both truth and unity. Is expositional preaching an essential fundamental of the Faith? No. Textual preaching (running commentary) is biblical, as is topical preaching, if it's not just proof-texting to make points the context doesn't support. Expositional preaching is important but not an essential distinctive mark of genuine Christians and churches. 

I think the rest of the "marks," as worded, are. What's my point? Compare the lists above. We're not all on the same page. Some groups are false believers to be exposed and rejected (Rev 2:6). Some groups are separated by deeply held convictions based on robust hermeneutical principles, which may not be actual essentials of the Faith, whether the members realize it or not. Some groups are separated by little more than human traditions and remain separate not because they must but because they always have been. Some of us are closer to each other than we sometimes recognize. I won't sacrifice a single essential doctrine or conviction to try to have full fellowship with someone who will not hold to Scripture. I can't do that with a clean conscience. However, I can join hands with believers in good works we agree about whether we disagree about other things or not, and the partnerships such efforts create form the relationships necessary for the kind of meaningful dialogue essential to building bridges to restore agreement over the essentials and our convictions. If we’re the truth AND unity movement we’re called to be, we must keep trying. We can do better, and we've got to try. 

---JLP