What is the Unity Church / Unity School of Christianity?

Answer

Unity is an organization associated with the New Thought movement. Previously known as Unity Church (or Unity School) of Christianity, it should not be mistaken for Unitarian Universalism or Christian Science, despite sharing many beliefs. Unity is headquartered at Unity Village, near Kansas City, Missouri. According to their website, “The Unity movement was established by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in 1889 as a healing ministry centered on the power of prayer and our thoughts to shape our reality. The Fillmores viewed Jesus as a significant example rather than an exception, interpreted the Bible metaphysically, and taught that God resides within each of us.” With approximately 110,000 members across more than 300 Unity churches, it stands as one of the largest metaphysical groups in the United States. Its publication, Daily Word, boasts millions of readers.

The origins of the Unity Church trace back to an illness. Myrtle suffered from tuberculosis and sought a cure. After attending a lecture by Dr. Eugene Weeks, a follower of Quimby’s New Thought teachings, she discovered metaphysical healing. Two years later, following extensive research and personal application of metaphysical principles, she claimed to have been healed. Initially skeptical, her husband also delved into metaphysics, exploring various religions and philosophies. This exploration led to the establishment of the Unity School of Christianity, inspired by a moment when Charles heard a voice whisper “Unity” to him. The name was fitting, reflecting the Fillmores’ eclectic religious philosophy drawing from New Thought, Christian Science, Divine Science, Hinduism, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Spiritualism, and more. Charles expressed their approach as “borrowing the best from all religions.” Motivated by Myrtle’s recovery and their newfound knowledge, they began hosting gatherings to impart their innovative theology.

The Unity Church asserts that, throughAdherence to its teachings can lead to increased happiness and better health, enabling individuals to reach their divine potential. Despite identifying as Christian, the Unity movement differs significantly from authentic biblical Christianity. Their website describes Unity as an inclusive spiritual community that respects all paths to God, guiding individuals to explore and fulfill their spiritual potential and purpose. While they profess to follow Jesus’ teachings, their definition contradicts His words, as Jesus stated, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Jesus did not endorse any other path to God except through Himself (John 3:16-18;10:7-13). Acts 4:12 affirms, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

The following briefly outlines some key areas where Unity beliefs conflict with true Christianity:

God: Unity views God as an idea or a force rather than a personal entity. In contrast, Scripture consistently portrays God as a Father «Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. », (Matthew 5:16), Creator «I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. », (Isaiah 43:15), and Provider «But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. », (Philippians 4:19), and Healer (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 32:39). He embodies the characteristics and qualities of a Person. He communicates (Job 2:2; Acts 22:10), expresses «And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because this people has transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice; », (Judges 2:20), loves «For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake his saints; they are preserved forever: But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. », (Psalm 37:28), sings «The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. », (Zephaniah 3:17), fights «The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall be silent. », (Exodus 14:14), and takes pleasure in those who love Him «The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delights in his way. », (Psalm 37:23).

Jesus: The Unity website states the following about Jesus: “We believe that Jesus manifested his divine potential and aimed to demonstrate to humanity how to manifest ours as well. We view Jesus as a master teacher of universal truths and as our Way Shower. In Unity, we interpret Christ as the divinity within humanity.” The Bible proclaims that Jesus was “the only begotten Son of the Father” «In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him. » (1 John 4:9).

World, that we might live through him.” , (1 John 4:9). He did not “possess a divine Spark”; He was the Word become flesh (John 1:1;Philippians 2:5-11). He accepted worship, which only God can righteously do (Matthew 2:11;John 9:38,20:28;Hebrews 1:6). His purpose was not “to express his divine potential and seek to show humankind how to express ours.” He said the night before His crucifixion that “it was for this very reason I came to this hour” «Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. », (John 12:27). If Jesus came to show us how to “live our divinity,” why did He state that His death on the cross was the reason He came?

Humanity: Unity teaches that “our essential nature is divine and therefore inherently good. Our purpose is to express our divine potential as realized and demonstrated by Jesus and other master teachers.” This is directly contrary to biblical teaching. Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Romans 5:12 states clearly that we are not born good: “Death spread to all men because all sinned.” Verses 9 and 10 say that we were under the “wrath of God” and that “we were enemies” of God. The Bible is clear that man is inherently sinful and cannot attain righteousness by his own efforts. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection paid for our sin and purchased a way for us to be reconciled to God. C. S. Lewis summarized the truth about Jesus when he wrote, “You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a de

mon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

Heaven and hell: The Unity site declares that “heaven and hell are states of consciousness, not geographical locations. We make our own heaven or hell here and now by our thoughts, words, and deeds.” However, Jesus said, “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49-50). The apostle Paul spoke of being “absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8-10). Hebrews 9:27 is clear that “it is appointed unto man once to die and after that, the judgment.” Jesus showed us exactly what happens after death in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). It is impossible to read the Bible honestly and not see the themes of eternal life and judgment.

The Bible: The Unity site claims that “the Bible is Unity’s basic textbook.” But this statement is deceptive. Judging by their many erroneous doctrines, Unity does not view the Bible as infallible or literal. The founders of Unity saw the Bible “as history and allegory and interpreted it as a metaphysical representation of humankind’s evolutionary journey toward spiritual awakening.” They claim to consider it inspired, but they clearly believe that inspiration did not come from a perfect, unchangeable God (Numbers 23:19;Hebrews 13:8;James 1:17). The term inspired appears to refer to human inspiration rather than “God-b.

“Breathed” «All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: », (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Unity movement cannot be accurately described as a “church.” The term in Scripture always refers to a body of believers, saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:16-18). Since “faith in Christ” means something entirely different in the Unity organization, their doctrine does not lead to salvation, heaven, or a relationship with the true and living God. Such pseudo-Christian religions are far from harmless. Any group that denies the triune nature of God «Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: », (Matthew 28:19), the depravity of man «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23), the infallibility of Scripture «Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. », (John 17:17), and the deity and lordship of Jesus Christ «and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. », (Philippians 2:11) is not of God. The Bible has strong words for those who pervert its teaching. Galatians 1:7-8 says, “There are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Proverbs 14:12 also applies to groups like Unit

“There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death.”