Live.Awake

Unity and Diversity

// July 2nd, 2007 // Christian Living, Sunday Recap

As a church grows, often the existing members get a little nervous. And it’s understandable. The fear (often unspoken, but no less real) is that the church will lose some of its identity or unity. As more people come to Christ the church is filled with more variation; a wider range of cultures and traditions are represented. I think most people agree that this is a good thing, but still the idea is unsettling.

The thing we misunderstand is that unity and diversity is possible at the same time! God doesn’t want us to be a homogenous sea of grey where everyone endeavors to look, think and worship the same way! Scripture bears that out over and over. Some examples:

1. The nature of the Godhead — the trinity One God, 3 persons
2. Creation — Many varieties of species, one creator
3. Marriage — 2 individuals become one flesh
4. The Church — The Body of Christ as seen in I Corinthians 12:4-28 — many parts w/ separate functions, one body

Our unity is around Jesus, not our similarities! Our unity is not dependant on personality compatibility, socio-economic status, ethnicity or occupation. It is our unity with Christ and his love through us (I Cor. 13) that makes all this work. Love is the glue that sticks us to each other and to Him. Without it, we have nothing but self help, positive thinking and Oprah. Good luck with that.

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