What do the Assemblies of God, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and Independent Fundamental Baptist churches have in common? What about Korean Presbyterian, Reformed Baptist, and Calvary Chapel?
Apart from a shared commitment to Christian orthodoxy and a passion for the gospel, not much. Yet these are just some of the backgrounds represented in our weekly small group.
When my wife, Sarah, and I moved to Indianapolis four years ago, we immediately started a small group. We knew we needed regular touchpoints with other believers and a tighter group to do life with. We trusted that if we opened up our home, God would bless our effort to practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13).
God did just that, cobbling together a diverse group of believers from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and life stages. However, we quickly learned that these were not the only ways in which we were diverse.
Our group decided to walk through books of the Bible one at a time, talking about whatever topics came up. As we worked through 2 Timothy, Philippians, the Minor Prophets, 1 Corinthians, and now Matthew, we have discussed and wrestled through issues such as the roles of men and women, spiritual gifts, and the particulars of Jesus’s return. Often, group members held different views, sometimes passionately!
When COVID set in, we found that our group also had different opinions about masks, vaccines, and how Christians should respond to various social issues.
Given all we have seen in culture and the church in recent years, you might think this would have been a disaster. Group member Aaron Kim remembers, “Initially, I was offended and thought some of the theological differences were too great to be able to stay together as a small group.
“But I witnessed some of our small group members with significantly different views respectfully talk through the differences and still love each other well. My wife and I had not seen this before. We were amazed and learned that it is possible to be united with believers despite significant theological differences. The key thing to remember is that we are all brothers and sisters united in Jesus.”
When looking around my deck or living room, I’ve often thought “If we didn’t know Jesus, there is no reason this group of people would be hanging out.”
But through the gospel, God makes one new creation, the church, out of many different people (Eph. 2:15).
Yet just like with other kinds of unity in diversity, pursuing theological unity in diversity takes work, and it happens best in the context of relationship. I am much less tempted to scoff at someone’s belief when I know them personally and live life with them.
It is possible for brothers and sisters in Christ to walk in unity in theological diversity. It takes a commitment to the truth of God’s Word, a commitment to each other, and a commitment to joyfully submit to the teaching of the local church.
Despite our differences and in many ways because of them, this small group has proven to be a tremendous blessing to my family these four years. We have shared meals, prayer requests, and significant life events. Our children have become friends and each week get to observe their parents getting together to know Jesus more and encouraging each other in the faith.
Truly, we have experienced the unity expressed in this old hymn:
Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like that to that above.
We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
To learn more about small groups, visit yourchurch.com/smallgroups.
