Very well said, Twayneb.
However, (and this is just my view) I don't think you will ever get the "unity of doctrine" amongst Believers, but what is important is the "unity of the Spirit". You won't have the unity of the Spirit of God if the Lord is grieved about something. And the Spirit of God working through a loving Body of Believers knows how to make adjustments in our lives.
I think one reason why there is always so much strife, is because some people are looking for "unity of doctrine" and always pushing their view of it rather than the "unity of the Spirit". Some will no doubt argue that they are the same, but I don't think so. We refuse and prevent a man to think for himself when he is forced or coerced to believe what everyone else believes by being disfellowshipped in subtle ways.
I am with you that there are essential doctrines, but beyond this, Paul explains in Romans 14 there is liberty.
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Let's face it, if someone has the Son, the Bible says they have Life and who are we to reject them? Paul had the heart and mind of Christ because he continued to work with stubborn, thickheaded people who had wrong doctrine. He had a lot of patience and love with God's children. Not much patience for the Judaizers, but Jesus called a spade a spade with the Pharisees, too. The problem is that we look at each other as Pharisees and not children of God. Paul did not do that. Jesus did not do that.
God is able to make us stand.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Here we are in 2012 looking back on centuries of men and women who loved God and who we think we would offer the right hand of fellowship to. Yet, we also see from our vantage point various things we don't agree with, yet we stand convinced they loved God and gave their life for Him.
If we only had that kind of graciousness (grace) towards one another, today that we so willingly extend to dead people.
I meet weekly with people that "endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" and it is very refreshing. We aren't checking each other's doctrine. I see from their life, from their struggles to walk with Jesus that they are holding fast to Him and they love Him and they love the brethren. Are they perfect? No! Am I? No way?
God will bring us all understanding in His time if we don't wipe ourselves out first. If we would endeavor to keep the "unity of the Spirit", I think it would be amazing at how much understanding God would bring to us. Children grow better in an environment of love. Our job is to walk in mercy, love, forgiveness and that will create an environment that the Holy Spirit can operate in. But the Holy Spirit cannot operate in an environment of strife and men trying to control and manipulate each other.
You know what doctrine is important to an immature church that is always fighting? The doctrine of Christ. Getting to know Christ will bring everything into order. The doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of godliness. That right there will bring much into order today which is out of whack.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
So, it seems pretty important that we find out what this "doctrine of Christ" is.
Blessings to you, my brother.
Pilgrim
There are a lot of people that "know" doctrine but don't know Jesus Christ.
