Unity in Diversity?

If we can establish that unity in the wider church is actually a good thing then we need to make clear what form it should take. Should it be regarded primarily as a physical thing, emotional, spritual or all three? When we speak about unity do we mean in diversity or uniformity or perhaps a bit of each?

When I first had the idea for this piece it seemed so obviously to point towards diversity. I have to admit to feeling a sadness when certain types of people are excluded from the church due to being seen as difficult and/or different. As a qualified mental health nurse I have on occasions worked closely with people with conditions such as Schizophrenia. Now although these people were to my mind true believers there are not many Churches that could be able/willing to accommodate them. Alternately, the fact that there are Christian bikers groups or racial divides for example, disappoints me. Indeed when I first became a Christian the minister at my church encouraged me not just to worship with students like myself but to mix with a wider cross-section of people. For where two people who in the natural scheme of things couldn't get on now find themselves wanting to be friends, this, to me is a sign that God has been at work. After all what does it prove if we only ever fellowship with people similar to ourselves?

Colossians 3 v 11 stress's that there should be no 'jew nor greek, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, scythian, slave or free but Christ is all and in all'. It is interesting to note here that the Barbarians and Scythians are wild and uncultured people but we are called 'not to judge on outward appearence only but make a righteous judgement.' It is a good thing, in my opinion, to be offended by what offends God and to be grieved by what grieves the Holy Spirit but it is possible to be guided by what seems culturally right and what fits in with tradition. Not all tradition is bad but as 1Thessolonians 5 says 'test everything.....hold fast to what is fine'

So who needs to change? Those currently in fellowship or those outside? I think that the answer is much easier said than done: everybody needs to draw closer to Jesus: to become more humble, more open minded and more flexible. Whilst sticking resolutely and firmly to scripture. We need to become the kind of church that anybody from any walk of life can feel comfortable. Do people leave our churches because they are running away from God or is there some other reason?

1 Corinthians 12 makes some telling points on the subject. Indeed the theme of unity in diversity is a very recurring one. First of all there is much more to unity than physical proximity, mental assent or even doctrinal agreement. For example it says in verse 26 'if one part of the body suffers all suffer with it and if one part is honoured all rejoice with it. Thoughout the passage Paul appears to emphasise the diversity and interdependence. In verse 15 he states 'f the foot says because I am not a hand therefore I am not part of the body it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. Paul says in verse21 'the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of you'. Indeed in verse 22 he states that 'those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensible' For as the Word says: 'there are many who are last who will be first and many who are first who will be last'.

Uniformity in my mind exists in terms of single mindedly following Christ. We should all pursue Christlikeness in terms of love for each other, holiness etc indeed as it says in John 10 v 4 'His sheep follow him because they know his voice'. We live in a society with many divides: people seperate themselves due to race, gender, age, class indeed so many things but ultimately there will only be one divide those whose names are written in the lambs book of life and those who are not. Even here it is not our job to decide who is and who isn't (Romans 10 v 6-7). We are merely called to love our neighbour as ourselves.

The unity that I believe that the Lord wants is heartfelt with deep roots.