“…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. -Jesus

The Christian Church has long wrestled with how to maintain unity in the face of theological diversity. A helpful maxim that guides this effort is the statement: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” This quote is often attributed to Augustine, most likely it was first stated by the 17th-century Lutheran, Peter Meiderlin. This phrase provides a biblical framework for maintaining both doctrinal integrity and relational love. It reminds the Church that while some truths are non-negotiable, others are not grounds for division. It also insists that, regardless of agreement or disagreement, love must always govern our relationships. In our polarized and contentious age, the church would do well to recover and practice this balance.

As someone who pastors an Evangelical Free Church in North Dallas, I have seen firsthand how vital this principle is for the health and witness of the body of Christ. Our congregation includes people from a variety of church backgrounds, theological traditions, and personal convictions. In this diversity, we are learning that spiritual maturity is not measured by total agreement on every doctrine, but by our shared passion for the gospel, the Great Commission, our submission to God’s Word, and our love for one another. First, unity in essentials is a non-negotiable foundation. Essential doctrines include:

• The authority of Scripture
• The triune nature of God
• The deity and humanity of Christ
• Salvation by grace through faith
• The resurrection of the dead

These are the truths that define the gospel and form the basis of Christian identity. The apostle Paul affirms the idea that some truths are foundational and central to the Christian faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:3, he writes:“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures…” Paul makes a deliberate distinction, certain teachings are not just true; they are of first importance. There are essential truths that all Christians must affirm because they are the very heart of the gospel. To compromise on these truths is to abandon the message that saves.

Jesus Himself affirms the importance of rightly identifying what is most essential to the life of faith. When asked which commandment is the most important, He replied, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:29–30)

However, not every theological issue rises to this level of importance. That leads to the second principle: liberty in non-essentials. The Church throughout history has recognized that sincere, faithful believers may come to different conclusions on secondary matters. These may include items like:

• Views on the end times
• How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together
• Bible translation preferences
• The nature of charismatic gifts
• The structure of church government.

These issues are significant and worthy of study, but they are not part of the gospel’s core message outlined in passages like 1 Corinthians 15. Therefore, Christians should be free to hold their convictions in these areas without being excluded from fellowship or partnership in gospel mission.

Importantly, liberty in non-essentials does not mean that we don’t value all of God’s Word. As a pastor I regularly emphasize that Scripture is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and must be the guide for all that we do in the church. We should teach our views clearly and argue for them persuasively. Yet, at the same time, we do so with humility and respect to other believers who may differ with our views about non-essentials. This liberty allows churches and denominations to maintain theological integrity while avoiding unnecessary division. It creates space for discussion, learning, and mutual sharpening, while preserving the unity that Christ desires for His Church.

Dr. Mark Ross puts it like this, “The saying of Rupertus Meldenius strikes the right balance. It calls for unity on the essential things, the core of truth in our union with Christ. In non-essentials (not the unimportant, but those things that if lacking do not prevent our union with Christ), it calls for liberty so that all might follow their consciences under the Word and Spirit. In all things, however, there must be love (“charity” from the Latin caritas, or “love”), “which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:14).”

I still vividly remember talking to a young adult while I was an Associate Pastor in the Chicagoland area. This young man was telling me about a number of different ways that he disagreed with our church. I told him, with as much love as I could, that if he wanted a church where everyone agreed on every doctrine, he’d have to start his own and keep it very small. The beauty of the gospel is that it frees us to worship and serve alongside people who see some things differently, yet share the same Savior. If he did not do this, he was going to be miserable and make everyone else miserable too! I wasn’t telling him to leave; I was inviting him to grow. My point was that he needed to humbly embrace the fact that it is healthy for Christians in the same church to have different opinions about a number of topics in the Word of God.

This brings us to the final and most encompassing principle: in all things, charity. Even when we disagree, we are commanded to love one another. Charity means extending grace in our conversations, resisting caricatures of other views, and prioritizing relationships over winning arguments. Charity does not minimize truth; it applies truth with compassion and patience. The apostle Paul reminds us that without love, even the most brilliant theology is empty noise (1 Corinthians 13:1–2). Love is the context in which both unity and liberty can thrive.

Practically speaking, this means churches can be deeply rooted in gospel essentials, while also being generous in how they engage doctrinal differences. It allows for a shared commitment to mission and discipleship without requiring uniformity on every point of doctrine. It invites thoughtful dialogue rather than division. This approach protects the purity of the gospel and promotes the peace of the church.

In conclusion, the saying “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” offers a wise and biblical approach to life together in the body of Christ. It guards the truth, promotes healthy theological dialogue, and fosters Christlike love. Paul’s distinction between what is of “first importance” and what is not helps us wisely discern how to hold tightly to gospel truths while giving space for diversity in secondary matters. In a world marked by division, this kind of posture is not weakness, it is strength guided by the Holy Spirit. It reflects the heart of Jesus, who prayed that His followers would be one, even as He and the Father are one (John 17:21). It is both a vision and a command for the church today, whether in North Dallas or around the world.

Other Scripture Passages That Support “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” (Mark 12:29-30, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Ephesians 4:4–6, Jude 1:3, Galatians 1:8–9, Romans 14:1–5, Romans 14:22, Colossians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 13:1–2, John 13:34–35, Ephesians 4:2–3)

Quotes That Support “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things charity.” “We must distinguish between what is central to the gospel and what is peripheral to it, not because the peripheral things are unimportant, but because losing the center means losing everything.” -D.A. Carson

“The drivetrain of authentic Christianity consists of vital doctrines such as the nature of God; the fallenness of humanity; the person and work of Christ; the authority and inspiration of Scripture; the way of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; the nature of Christ’s atoning work; and all truths of similar import.” -John MacArthur

“The ability to discern the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary doctrines is essential to the unity of the church and the health of its witness.” -Al Mohler

“Not all truth is of equal importance. Some truths are essential to our salvation, others are important to our growth, and still others are matters about which we may agree to disagree.” -R.C. Sproul

“Even for Paul, there were doctrinal truths that were ‘of first importance’ (1 Corinthians 15:3). This is what we mean by dogmatic rank.” -Greg Strand

“It is possible to hold hands with brothers and sisters who disagree on secondary and tertiary matters of theology.” -David Dockery & Thom Rainer

“If everything is essential, nothing is essential. The gospel teaches us what to die for, what to divide over, and what to debate about.” -Mark Dever

“The unity of the Church rests on the unity of faith in the essentials of salvation, and this unity exists in spite of the many differences of opinion on minor points.” -Philip Schaff

“If you draw a line between those who are Christians and those who are not, you will find that many who disagree with you on secondary matters are still on your side of the line.” -C.S. Lewis

“The cardinal doctrines of Christianity are the foundation of all Christian unity.” -B.B. Warfield

“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?” -John Wesley