One of the biggest challenges I faced in Japanese churches is “unity.” When we first started attending a certain Japanese church, we were told that we are free to express our thoughts and that we should openly discuss disagreements in the church context. They said that we are 仲間 or “one of us”. Over the years, we realized that they expected us to adopt their ways of thinking and ways of doing things, since we are part of them now. They said that this what the Bible means when it says 一致 (“unity” in the English translation). So what, then, is “unity”? What did it mean in the Biblical context, in its original context when it was written?
Unity in the New Testament
Two verses come to mind from the New Testament when we think about “unity”: Ephesians 4:3 and 4:13.
“eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3
“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
Ephesians 4:13
In both verses, the Greek word used for “unity” is ενιˊτης (henotēs). It comes from ει~ς (heis), meaning “one.” It implies a state of being one, oneness, solidarity. From its root meaning of “oneness” or “solidarity,” one might initially assume it means a group agrees on the same thing, leaving no room for argument or discussion. In fact, this Greek word focuses on the state of being one – a profound relational and spiritual oneness – rather than an enforced uniformity of opinion or the absolute absence of discussion. If we look at the immediate context of these verses, this nuance quickly becomes apparent.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
Ephesus was a diverse city, with people from various backgrounds and cultures. It was home to the immense and magnificent Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This brought pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean, creating a vibrant, yet also deeply pagan, religious atmosphere. There were numerous other shrines, temples, and cults. This environment fostered a culture of religious tolerance and syncretism, where people often blended different beliefs.
The church was also a diverse one, with members coming from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. As such there were conflicting thoughts around how one ought to live out their faith. Jews often believed in strict adherence to the law, including circumcision, and some within the church may have encouraged Gentiles to follow these same practices, creating tension. It is under these circumstances that Paul was calling for unity. What sort of unity was Paul calling for?
“4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:4-6
These are the non-negotiable points of unity. These are the things believers must be united on. They are the fixed points around which diversity can flourish. This helps define the scope of unity Paul is talking about. Notice that he does not talk about which ministry is more important, the mode of baptism, the order of the service, or how church leadership should be set up. None of these are points where we need to have unity. There needs to be unity in the core truths relating to God, faith which includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and baptism (identification) into the body of Christ. There can be diversity in the way that these truths can be carried out.
“7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift… 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
Ephesians 4:7, 11-12
Different gifts were given to different believers, and these gifts were given by Christ. This not only affects the way that we do things or how we structure things in the church, but it also affects the way we think about what the Bible is saying. While there must be unity in core truths, there can and should be diversity in how we interpret and apply the Bible in our daily thoughts and actions, as we are all led by the Spirit and gifted differently. This very diversity, when embraced within the framework of foundational truths, builds up the body of Christ and contributes to genuine unity.
Unity in a Western Context
How does the New Testament understanding of “unity” compare with how it is understood in a western context? There certainly is a strong emphasis on individual thought and freedom. Thus, when you attend a healthy church you are often encouraged to read the Bible on your own and investigate whether what is said by the preacher is aligned to the Bible. This has often led to great discussions in church communities that align them better with the Bible, while there are other cases where it has led to division. Denominationalism is a good example of this. Each denomination has their own emphasis, and they all insist that their beliefs are aligned with the Bible.
In Western contexts, much like the environment influenced by Sophists in ancient Ephesus (known for their rhetoric, eloquent speaking, and persuasive argumentation), building your case, stating your opinion, and refuting others’ arguments is standard practice. It is widely acceptable to have a different opinion than others in practices, worship styles, and non-essential theological interpretations. Disagreements are often tolerated within a broader framework of unity.
Unity in a Japanese Context
In most Japanese Bibles, ενιˊτης (henotēs) is tranted as 一致 (icchi). What does icchi mean in a Japanese context?
Icchi, on the one hand, has the sense of one-ness of heart, working together, and being a collective body. This appears to be similar to what the New Testament teaches about how a church should be. The group works together as one body towards the same goal. On the other hand, icchi also means that there is absolutely no difference and that everyone is on the same page. There may be several opinions out there, but where there is icchi there is absolutely no difference in opinion, process, and ideology. There is unanimity. If you have icchi with a group, it means you are conforming to that group.
There are several factors from Japanese culture that contribute to this. Japanese culture places a very high value on group harmony (和,wa), which avoids conflicts and drives a group to consensus. There must be icchi because there must be Wa in every Japanese social context. There is also a culture of consensus-driven decision making. Before any decision is made, there is a long process of speaking to every stakeholder and ensuring that there is a consensus before moving forward. Disagreements are suppressed or not expressed. There is a pressure to confirm, as challenges are seen as disruptive.
This is prevalent in the Japanese church. When a pastor or respected elder speaks, there is very little to no confrontation even if they are wrong. When the church leadership makes a decision and they know there are certain individuals who disagree, separate individual meetings are held to drive those individuals to conform. If those individual meetings do not work, the individual will be called into the leadership meeting and be questioned why they are not “with the group.” In worst cases, the individuals will be called out during congregational meetings as being disruptive or argumentative. This is all in the effort to suppress diverse thinking and uphold the icchi of the church.
Towards a Fuller Understanding of Unity
The Bible presents ενιˊτης (henotēs) as oneness in Spirit/faith, relational solidarity, allowing for diversity. Western “Unity” is understood as core doctrinal agreement, shared mission, and tolerates diversity in non-essentials. Japanese 一致 (icchi) has a strong emphasis on unanimity, conformity, and consensus, all in an effort to uphold the cultural value of “Wa”.
The problem with icchi is that it not only foregos the original meaning that the Bible presents, but it creates a burden for Japanese believers to suppress their thoughts and conform to their leadership. It could also suppress individual conscience or theological exploration. It can lead to ostracization of those who don’t perfectly conform, even if the difference is non-essential. There is a shift in focus from unity of the Spirit (which includes diversity) to a unity of opinion.
The Bible clearly shows us where we are to have unity and where we are allowed diversity. For Western believers, understanding henotēs challenges us to consider where our individualism might lead to fragmentation and how we can better set aside non-essential differences for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. For Japanese believers, understanding henotēs beyond the common interpretation of icchi can reveal a profound freedom to explore and express their Spirit-led convictions, fostering a unity rooted in love and Christ, rather than compelled conformity.
Genuine unity is often harder than mere agreement; it requires love, patience, humility, and a willingness to understand and bear with one another. It’s about being “one in Christ” even if we don’t always think identically on every single point. Perhaps true unity is not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of love and respect that allows for healthy disagreement within a shared bond in Christ.