Don’t Cause Your Brother to Stumble
In 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, Paul discusses how eating food sacrificed to idols is not a sin, even though it may defile the conscience of some believers. He urges believers not to eat food sacrificed to idols, however, in order to avoid causing their brother to stumble. This is an important concept as we seek to live in harmony with other believers with varying beliefs… it does no good to compel them to act against their conscience! In fact, it’s a sin on our part to do so.

Know What Hills You Are Willing to Die On
There are certain parts of my faith that I am not willing to throw away or change for the sake those who disagree. For me, these parts include our one true God, the Bible as His holy Word, the deity of Christ, my salvation through His death on the cross, and the overall importance of loving God and others. These are basic, fundamental doctrines in my faith which I have been taught, researched thoroughly myself, and felt the Holy Spirit’s confirmation on. As we seek doctrinal unity, we must remember that we are called to stand firm, and hold to the traditions which we were taught (1 Thess 2:15).

Pray for One Another
Relying solely upon our human intelligence and powers of reasoning guarantees failure. We must ask for God’s power and guidance. A second benefit of praying for one another is that prayer breaks down walls and brings healing. As our prideful human flesh and Satan himself attempt to turn differences in faith into broken relationships and church splits, God’s love works to mend relationships and bring unity to the body.

Study the Textbook and Talk to the Author
It seems obvious, but it must be said: if the basis of our belief is God’s Word, we must all spend time studying the Bible. And since we cannot discern God’s truth apart from the teaching of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14), we must continually pray and ask for His wisdom in interpreting His Word. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13a)

Remain Humble
My Christian experience has taught me that human pride, (not true conviction of belief), often drive “doctrine wars.” Sometimes we’re just too prideful to admit that we’re wrong! Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:3, and James 1:21 (among others) all speak of the importance of humility in the body of Christ. When it comes to doctrinal differences, both sides (not just the “other side”) need to approach the issue in humility.

Seek Opportunities to Sharpen Each Other
My good friend Jesse Thomas is a man who enjoys discussing spiritual truths with those who believe differently. We’ve had many discussions about Biblical topics, and in doing so have sharpened each other’s knowledge of the Word and faith in God. These discussions have also brought us closer together, creating more unity in the body. Instead of shunning those with disparate beliefs, we should seek opportunities to talk humbly about spiritual matters—because God often works through other believers to teach us His truth!