In an age where division feels more natural than unity, Christians are at an important crossroads.
The mission of God—the redemption of all people through the gospel of Jesus Christ—is too important, urgent, and beautiful to be hindered by tribalism. Yet within the church, tribal formation continues to fracture the body of Christ, creating silos of thought, culture, and denomination that often prioritize self-preservation over the mission of God.
Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “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” (ESV throughout). This prayer was not for mere uniformity but a real spiritual unity—a deep collaboration centered on God’s mission.
If the world is to believe in Jesus, then our unity as believers is not optional. It is essential. Embracing unity can renew our witness, amplify our impact, and advance the gospel in a divided world.
An outworking of our Christian unity is kingdom collaboration—the purposeful and Spirit-led partnership between believers, churches, and ministries who choose to work together despite their differences for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.
It reflects the biblical principle that the church is one body with many members (1 Cor. 12:12), each with unique gifts, roles, and cultures that serve the greater whole. In fact, kingdom collaboration is more valuable—and more biblical—than just staying in our tribal formations.
Harvie M. Conn, the late professor of missions at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, argued that the letters to the churches in the Book of Revelation, such as to the church at Ephesus, is not referencing one local church but rather all the churches in that region. The collective whole, rather than a singular church, was the witness of the church.
When I was church planting in Philadelphia, I led an interdenominational event for area churches called All 1.6. We had the sole objective of asking how we could reach all 1.6 million people of the City of Brotherly Love with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
One tangible outcome of the effort allowed two churches planting in University City to no longer see each other as competition but as fellow laborers called to support one another. While this type of work can be costly (time, relationships, etc.), it was time well spent to demonstrate how we are better together.
This type of unity is rooted in humility, recognizing that no single tradition, denomination, or leader holds the monopoly on truth or mission. It understands that no single church or ministry can do the work reaching its community.
Further, collaborative efforts like this value diversity, seeing cultural and theological differences (within orthodoxy) as strengths, not threats. And such efforts pursue a common mission: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Christ (Matt. 28:18–20).
Contrast this with tribal formation—a natural but dangerous tendency to cluster with those who think, look, worship, and act like us. Tribes form for comfort, but they can often devolve into isolation, pride, and even antagonism toward other parts of the body of Christ.
Instead, from Genesis to Revelation, God’s story is one of partnership and unity. When God called Abraham, it was to bless “all the families of the earth” (Gen. 12:3). When Jesus commissioned the church, it was to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). This global, boundary-breaking vision started with a unified church.
This early church modeled collaboration. In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council gathered apostles and elders across cultures to resolve the Gentile question. Their decision preserved the unity of the church and propelled the mission forward. Likewise, the apostle Paul partnered with churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, and beyond—raising funds, exchanging leaders, and writing epistles that crossed tribal lines.
Unity doesn’t mean we lose our identity or convictions. Paul was a Jew to the Jews and a Gentile to the Gentiles (1 Cor. 9:20–22). But he refused to let secondary issues divide the church. He warned the Corinthians, “Each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided?” (1:12–13).
Tribalism is subtle and can often masquerade as loyalty, tradition, or even faithfulness. But when it turns inward, it creates mistrust, widens division, and shifts focus from God’s kingdom to human kingdoms.
Tribalism undermines mission becauseit breeds competition instead of cooperation. Churches and ministries begin to compare numbers, styles, and success metrics, leading to envy, suspicion, or superiority. This competitive spirit quenches the Spirit, tells a false gospel, and stalls mission.
Further, tribalism creates a mindset that diminishes or undervalues perceived “others” and ultimately undermines the power and credibility of our collective witness. And it can isolate resources and knowledge: One church may have discipleship tools; another, outreach strategies; another, cultural insight. When we operate in silos, we can be tightfisted about kingdom resources rather than living out of the generosity of the gospel.
Thankfully, there are real stories that show us that when believers work together across tribal lines, God does more than we can ask or imagine.
In many global contexts, denominations are laying down logos and egos to plant churches collaboratively.
In cities like Houston, 10–20 churches of different backgrounds now share resources, training, and support to reach neighborhoods none could have reached alone. In other places, efforts to serve the poor, fight human trafficking, or provide disaster relief through justice and mercy ministries are excellent witnesses of how churches can work together.
Prayer and worship events like days of prayer for the community, joint prayer walks, or ministries like Bless Every Home gather believers from all backgrounds for one cause: praying as Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come … on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).
These are not merely examples but rather expressions of the kingdom of God breaking into our divided world.
If you’re a Christian—whether a pastor, layperson, or ministry leader—here’s how you can help turn the tide toward kingdom collaboration in your own context.
First, repent of tribalism. Ask the Lord to reveal where pride, fear, or insecurity has closed your heart to others in the body. Confess it and receive God’s grace. I often pray Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart!”
Then, let God enlarge your vision of the church. Celebrate other tribes. Learn from Christians outside your tradition. Read their books. Sing their songs. Pray with their pastors and befriend them, maybe joining a local pastor’s prayer group or inviting other leaders to lunch, because true collaboration flows from friendship and trust.
Do you have a resource—such as a discipleship program, curriculum, facility, or training—that you can offer others? When we share generously, we demonstrate the character of God and have kingdom impact beyond our imagination. Sometimes our best resources are not our strategies but our stories. We can share those too.
While differences will arise, Christians across traditions share a common foundation in the gospel. By focusing on what we have in common more than what separates us, we can create meaningful connections. Some of my best friends in ministry are those who are not part of my denomination or tribe.
We can often think that the greatest threat to the church’s effectiveness is “out there,” but it’s often the division “in here.” When we isolate, we shrink. But when we unite, we shine.
The apostle Paul urged the Ephesian church to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Why? Because “there is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope … one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (vv. 4–6).
God’s vision for his church is not tribal dominance but kingdom collaboration. A church that works together will worship together for all eternity. And a church that collaborates together will have a greater witness together.
Let’s choose the harder path of partnership over the easier path of pride. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges the disciples to love their enemies with a profound question: What good is it if you love those who love you? When we stay in our tribal formations, we live like the rest of the world apart from the gospel.
Let’s see our theological, ethnic, and denominational diversity not as problems to solve but as gifts to steward. Let’s be the answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Because the kingdom will reflect people from every tribe, let’s glimpse that heavenly life with one another today.
Robert Kim serves as an associate professor of applied theology and church planting at Covenant Seminary and the director of church planting at Perimeter Church in Atlanta. He planted churches during his pastoral career and currently serves as a board member for the missions organization Serge.
