As a protestant Christian with a catholic loved one, I've thought much about unity. It's clear that Jesus desired the unity of the church, and also knew that it would be an issue in the years to come. John 17:20-23 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. " Surely this is the will of God - how if that is so, have we come to be so fragmented? How have we achieved such disunity?
I guess I'm not sure we have. Oh certainly there are doctrinal squabbles, but I'm not sure that proves disunity. We can in fact be either unified or dis-unified in any number of ways as Christians - as many ways as there are defined doctrines and practices. What is the true meaning of the Eucharist? What method is correct when baptizing believers? What about foot-washing? What's up with bishops and priests or pastors, deacons, preachers, ministers, etc., etc. Is the right form of church government congregational? Episcopal? Is gambling a sin, or just a bad idea? The list could go on forever.
I don't mean to minimize these issues in any way. Anyone who loves God and His son Jesus Christ will desire to know the truth about who they are, and how we should relate to them. It is our duty to probe and question. Even Catholics, though they believe interpretation of Scripture belongs to the trained teachers and leaders of the church, only became Catholics in the first place by examining and accepting a set of beliefs about the catholic church - by in fact interpreting Scripture, history, and the nature of the world around them. We all must do this, and all who really know Him will desire to.
But does it follow that we will all, in the short term, reach the same conclusions? Can anyone find one scripture that claims that ignorance will in fact result in your being cast into Hell? No. It's not there.
We are many times referred to as sheep without a shepherd - we're just not all that bright. That's why we're not told to pick up our cross correctly, just to pick it up and follow. And that is in fact, the unity that we do have. We are united in our love for Him, in our desire to follow Him, and learn from Him. I can go to a catholic church, and I can recognize my brothers and sisters. We can unite in our praise for our redeemer and helper. We can lift our hands together in prayer, and bow our heads in submission. What has divided us over the centuries has always been the arrogance of men who were sure they "had it right". What has united us throughout the same centuries, is the love we have for God, and the love we have for each other. "By this they will know that you are my disciples...."
