We confess that the primary mark of the true church is the faithful preaching of God’s Word,1 the good news of what God has done for us in Christ. Where this news is absent or altered, there cannot and must not be unity. As much as we would like to work together with Christians from other denominations, as much as we would like to think that every group which claims the name church is faithful and true, that is simply not the case. There are many who get the gospel wrong. There are many who hold up pious feelings, regular devotions, social engagement, or special experiences as necessary for salvation, many who confuse the fruits of faith with its roots. We must not be naive therefore in our interactions with fellow believers and churches. Division is necessary when it concerns the gospel. We do not want to prioritize an earthly peace at the expense of godly obedience.
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.