1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions
among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
Note 1 at 1 Cor. 1:10: The degree of unity that Paul is describing here is
awesome. He says that "all" (that means every believer) should speak the
same thing, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same
judgment. Note the use of the word "same." This rules out mere tolerance of
others' beliefs. Paul is stressing unity of belief (Eph. 4:13).
In Romans 14-15, Paul made allowances for differences of belief on "nonessential" points (seenote 3 at Rom. 14:1, p. 838) such as observance of
certain holy days and dietary laws. Therefore, Paul's instructions must be
interpreted to mean that there is some room for differences on minor points.
However, from the content of this very letter, we can see some of the
doctrinal issues on which Paul expected the believers to come into
agreement. Church discipline (ch. 5), legal disputes (ch. 6), divorce and
remarriage (ch. 7), not offending a weaker brother (ch. 8), communion (ch.
11), spiritual gifts (ch. 12-14), and the resurrection from the dead (ch. 15)
are issues that Paul considered "non-negotiable."
So, Paul's teaching in Romans 14 shows us that there is some room for
differences, but Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians reveal that many doctrines
that are considered non-essential to us today were essential to Paul.
Note 2 at 1 Cor. 1:10: The instructions of the apostle Paul in this verse are
very contrary to the situation in the body of Christ today. Divisions are so
commonplace that very few have the unity of the body of Christ as a goal.
The vast majority of Christians have become accustomed to denominational
divisions among Christians. Most Christians don't even take heed to divisions
within denominations. In fact, more often than not, churches of the same
denominational affiliation within the same city have no real fellowship with
each other. This is not the type of unity that Paul was advocating.
Paul was not promoting a mere tolerance of others within the body of Christ
with different doctrines (see note 1 at this verse). He made it very clear that
we were to resolve our doctrinal differences so that we are "perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment." The unity that Paul
was preaching was a real unity of mind and heart. Anything less would have
received Paul's rebuke.

If this is so, which it is, then that means God is not the one who has started
all the denominations. The Lord is not the one who has divided His church
into separate groups. This is the working of Satan to limit the effectiveness of
the church in the earth.
This does not mean that all denominations are "of the devil" nor are all those
who attend a denominational church. God loves all of those who are true
members of His church and uses them to the degree that they allow Him to,
regardless of what group they may be associated with. But the
denominational walls that men have built are a hindrance to the cause of
Christ. Denominations are simply a monument to man's inability to reconcile
their differences according to God's commands.
Paul did not instruct "his followers" to love those that were of Apollos and
Cephas and try to get along with them (1 Cor. 1:12-13; 3:4-7). He
commanded them to drop their affiliation with men and unite with one mind
and judgment in Christ.
This looks so impossible today that many very sincere people feel it is totally
impractical to advocate true unity among believers. Statements are made
like, "We won't agree doctrinally until the Lord comes." However, although
we cannot be dogmatic about this, it is closer to scripture to say, "The Lord
won't come until we do agree doctrinally."
Paul made it very clear that as long as there is strife and division among us,
we are still carnal. The Lord isn't coming for a carnal church. Scriptures such
as 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 5:17 reveal that the body of Christ will
be walking in victory at His return. A carnal church cannot walk in victory
(Rom. 8:6), therefore we can conclude that the church will not be carnal or
divided.
There is tremendous power in unity. The negative side of this can be seen at
the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:3-9). God divided the people of the earth to limit
their power to do evil.
Unity has great potential for good also (see ref. d, this verse). The church of
Jesus Christ was meant to use this power to release God's power in the earth.
There is nothing that is being accomplished now with the division in the
church that could not be accomplished better with true unity among
believers.
From just a logistical standpoint, division greatly hampers communications,
isolating individual groups and making them easier prey for the enemy. The
body of Christ has been divided into little groups fighting independent wars.
This was not God's plan.

On the positive side, we have seen a mighty miracle in this area in the last
generation. Starting in the 60's with the Jesus movement and continuing
through the Charismatic movement, one of the central themes shared by the
majority of these people was unity of the believers. People of every possible
religious background united in the common faith in Christ.
Today, religious affiliation is much less important with a large portion of
believers than our union with Christ and other believers. While this is still
short of the unity Paul is preaching here, it is a step in the right direction and
cause for hope.
The answer to this problem is not to condemn everyone in a denomination
and start a new denomination called "non-denominational." The only way a
godly type of unity can happen is one heart at a time being moved by the
grace of God, "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).
The first three chapters of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians should forever
end debate on whether or not true unity among believers is the will of the
Lord. That has and always will be God's best.
Note 3 at 1 Cor. 1:10: The renewal of our mind is an important part in the
process of unity. We can co-exist with others but we cannot truly be in unity
with others until we begin to be of the same mind. Christian love is not
bound by doctrine but true unity is. Love is the bond of perfectness that
holds us together, but there must be a shared foundation of doctrine for real
unity.