Can Christians Disagree?

“We’re just going to have to agree to disagree.”

Have you ever had a discussion with someone over a particular issue that ended with those words? I know I have. Whether due to our upbringing, our culture, or our experiences, our unique perspectives will sometimes hinder us from agreeing with one another. There are over 8 billion people in the world, and, I dare say, there isn’t a single one of us who perfectly agrees with another on everything. Sometimes peaceful, patient, and loving discussions can lead to agreement, but sometimes they don’t. Sometimes the only way forward is to agree to disagree.

But what about Christians? What about followers of Jesus who disagree on how to correctly interpret the inspired Scriptures? Can Christians disagree? Or is it necessary that we come to perfect agreement? I think the answer to both of these questions is “Yes”. There are times where it’s okay to agree to disagree, and there are times when it’s not. There are essential things we must believe and practice to be faithful followers of Jesus, and there are non-essential things that we may disagree on without our faithfulness to Jesus being jeopardized.

“Okay, Jon, what are the things we can and cannot agree to disagree on?” Well, that’s a bit tricky. If you and I were to sit down and write out an exhaustive list of what we believe are the essentials and non-essentials, we’d likely find that our lists aren’t exactly the same. Sure, we’d probably agree on several things. Things in which the Scriptures are more explicit and unambiguous (ex. Yahweh is the only true and living God, Jesus is the resurrected Son of God and Messiah, the Scriptures are inspired by God, etc.) But, who’s to say we’ll agree on what is explicit and what isn’t? What you consider as clear as crystal in the Scriptures, I may consider to be quite unclear. You may confidently place something on your “Essentials” list that I confidently place in my “Non-Essentials” list.

So the question becomes, who gets to decide what is essential and what isn’t? Who gets to decide what is necessary for us to agree upon? If your immediate, gut-reaction answer to that question is “God”, then I agree with you. But that doesn’t really get us anywhere. We both agree (I assume) that Scripture (God’s Word) is objective truth. That is to say, there is a correct way to interpret everything we read in the Bible. But the problem is, how do we know if our interpretation is correct? Some texts and topics can seem pretty straight-forward, but then there are others that are much more difficult to interpret. Even the greatest of biblical scholars come to different conclusions on any number of biblical texts and topics.

Realistically, any route you try to take to mend this dilemma is going to lead back to this fact: Christians are going to disagree with one another from time to time. We’re going to come to different convictions based upon our individual study of the Scriptures, and that doesn’t always mean someone’s salvation is in jeopardy (Romans 14). That doesn’t mean there is no objective truth. It simply means that, despite our best efforts, even the most sincere and studious Christians don’t always get everything right.

The proper question isn’t, “CAN Christians disagree?”. That’s always been the case and always will be. The proper question is, “HOW should Christians disagree?” To begin answering that question, we need to first understand the difference between Unity and Uniformity.

Unity vs. Uniformity

The difference between these two concepts is:

Unity is about individuals being peacefully united together as one despite their differences.

Uniformity is about individuals being the same as (copies of) one another so that they have no differences.

Which concept best fits the picture that the New Testament paints of Jesus’ church? Does Jesus want us all to be the same (without any differences), or does He want us all to be united despite our many differences? Does Jesus desire unity or uniformity? I think a careful reading of the New Testament will repeatedly prove that Jesus desires unity, not uniformity.

If that is the case, then we need to be extremely careful with the matters we choose to divide over. To judge, condemn, disfellowship, and divide over non-essentials (things God does not require us to agree on) is a

Solutions to Disagreements:

Unity is based upon humility, gentleness, tolerance, and love. (Eph. 4:1-3)

Always Be Humble and Assume the Possibility that You could Be Wrong

Be Gentle with Those Whom You Disagree with

Be Patient with Those You Disagree with

Lovingly Bear/Put Up with Those You Disagree with

Humility (tapeinophrosynē) refers to a lowliness of mind (Acts 20:19; Phil. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:5). This was not something the contemporary world regarded as a virtue, viewing it rather as weakness, although Judaism and the Old Testament did view it positively (Ps. 51:17; Isa. 66:2). It is the opposite of arrogance, a trait Paul condemns elsewhere (Rom. 11:20; 12:16). The term gentleness (praütēs) often occurs in contexts of conflict (2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 3:2). As a result, it naturally leads into patience or forbearance (makrothymia). Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23), as is patience (Gal. 5:22). The term gentleness ‘does not imply weakness, but self-control and a tempered spirit’. Relationships can be challenging, but when we are patient and gentle, conflict need not destroy what is there in Christ (2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12–13; 2 Tim. 4:2). In fact, gentleness and patience are both key virtues when working through conflict (1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Tim. 3:10; 4:2). Humility and gentleness are a combination Jesus used to describe himself (Matt. 11:29), and they become an example to follow (Eph. 4:32). Bearing with one another in love allows one to negotiate the conflicts that inevitably emerge in relationships. It is enduring a behaviour and then working through it. Unity requires tolerance at a relational level without being indifferent to truth.

So what are we to do? How are we to have the unity that Jesus prayed for and the apostles wrote about if we are incapable of attaining perfect agreement?

A careful study of the Scriptures will bring you to the realization that God didn’t intend on telling us everything there is to know about everything. The Scriptures weren’t written to satisfy all our curiosities. The Scriptures were written to tell us the story of how God is redeeming what is lost, restoring what is broken, and making all things new.

Salvation isn’t dependent upon perfect knowledge.

To my knowledge, the Scriptures in no way indicate that we must have a perfect understanding of the age to come in order to enjoy it.

Ephesians 4 & 1 Cor 12 - Unity Through Diversity

Both of these chapters are about unity through diversity. There are things we must be united on, but we are different people and play different roles in the body of Christ. Though different, everything we do should be done in love (1 Cor 13) and for the edification of our siblings in Christ (Eph 4:7-16).

This Principle Exists in Romans 14, Where Paul Essentially Tells People Who Disagree to Leave Each Other Alone

Should we all believe the same things? There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s very unlikely. Should we be able to politely debate, argue, and discuss our differences of opinions and convictions? Absolutely! In fact, it’s crucial that we do.

The perfect bond of unity is love:

Ephesians 4:1–3 (NASB95)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 3:14 (NASB95)

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

we must “agree” and “be of the same mind and judgment”:

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB95)

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

If you continue to read the context, you find that Paul was speaking of unity in Christ & the Gospel, not uniformity in all things.

If we must agree upon all things, who gets to decide on what those things are?