What does unity really mean for Christians in today’s divided world?
In the summer of 2022, Barna Group conducted a study with The Genius of One to explore Christian opinion on major faith topics, a key one being unity. In an election year and with holiday gatherings (and their related tensions) approaching, it may feel like unity is a hard thing to come by, even among Christians. This article explores recent data on both Christians’ and pastors’ perspectives of the subject.
Nearly Half of Pastors & Christians View Unity as “Agreement”
When asking Christians which terms they associate with experiences of unity, the definitions vary. Further, pastors and Christians differ in their opinions about the term as well. For pastors, words like “harmony” (70%), “reconciliation” (52%) and “sacrifice” (41%) come to mind, while Christians tend to say “alliance” (39%) or “sameness” (31%).
Pastors and Christians most align when they describe unity as “agreement.” Forty-seven percent of both pastors and Christians associate unity with this term.
Practicing Christians are more likely than nonpracticing Christians to associate unity with “harmony,” and nonpracticing Christians cite “sameness” (31%) more so than practicing Christians (29%). Regular church attendance and faith engagement may provide unique opportunities to learn about and practice unity frequently, affecting the way practicing Christians view its role in their lives.
