Foundational unity in Christ that transcends denominational boundaries

Despite their theological distinctiveness and historical separations, evangelical, fundamental, charismatic, Pentecostal, Orthodox, and Reformed churches share a foundational unity in Christ that transcends denominational boundaries.

The church of Jesus Christ possesses an inherent unity rooted in Scripture’s teaching of one Lord, one faith, and one baptism—a unity that binds believers together as members of the same body regardless of their differences.[1] This unity finds its deepest basis not in doctrinal uniformity but in the ongoing presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit within the Christian community, celebrated through the Eucharist and embodied in Christ’s promise to be present with his followers.[2]

The various traditions we mention emerged through different historical and cultural contexts, yet they share common theological commitments. The unity of the church across history and cultures can be discerned in its common missional vocation as a community sent by God through Jesus Christ, and in shared theological and practical concerns that provide both practical and intellectual basis for unity as diverse Christian communities participate together in God’s mission.[2]

However, this unity remains incomplete in the present age. Even in the New Testament, unity appears finite and fragile; it is not static but dynamic and multifaceted, requiring growth in both depth and breadth.[3] The given unity is imperfectly realized in this life, with imperfection springing from sin, which mars concord and affects understanding, resulting in grave differences of opinion that divide the visible body of Christ.[1]

Church unity is both a gift and an ongoing task requiring deliberate effort to maintain through the bond of peace—a pursuit Jesus himself prayed for, recognizing that the effectiveness of the church’s Spirit-empowered witness depends on pursuing unity among God’s people.[3] The various traditions we mention are called to actively work toward expressing this underlying spiritual reality in visible, concrete ways.

Passages like Ephesians 4:4-6 ("one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism") and Jesus's prayer in John 17 that his followers "may be one" are often cited to support it. Many Christians across these traditions would agree that what unites them, such as the Trinity, the death and resurrection of Christ, and salvation through him, runs deeper than what divides them. Where traditions differ is on what "one" means. Many Evangelicals, Reformed, and Pentecostals tend to speak of an "invisible church," the body of all true believers known to God, which crosses denominational lines. On this view, unity in Christ is real even where visible structures differ.

The Orthodox Church generally holds that the one Church is a visible communion with shared sacraments, apostolic succession, and the councils. Unity isn't just spiritual agreement but a concrete, shared life, so division is a real wound rather than a matter of style.

Some fundamentalist and separatist groups emphasize doctrinal boundaries and would be wary of declaring unity with traditions they believe teach error on core issues like the gospel, the sacraments, or Scripture's authority.

Charismatic and Pentecostal movements have often been among the most cross-denominational, since shared spiritual experience has brought together people from very different backgrounds. So the claim is true in a sense almost all of them would affirm (shared faith in Christ), while the harder question is how visible, practical, or doctrinally defined that unity must be.

[1] Harold Lindsell, “One World and One Church,” in Baker’s Dictionary of Practical Theology, ed. Ralph G. Turnbull (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1967), 190.

[2] John Franke, Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth, ed. Tony Jones (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2011). [See here, here, here.]
[3] Frank D. Macchia, The Spirit-Baptized Church: A Dogmatic Inquiry, ed. Daniela C. Augustine and Wolfgang Vondey, T&T Clark Systematic Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology (London; New York; Oxford; New Delhi; Sydney: T&T Clark, 2020), 128.