Unity despite our diversities……. As in the early motto of the United States, “e pluribus unum,” “from many, one.” It describes the sentiment that people from all over the world can come, settle here, make a life for themselves, and be united with all other citizens. Can we take this same motto and apply it to our Christian diversity? Christians have different talents…..“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” ~ Romans 12:6-8….. Christians function in different ways…..”Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.” ~ 1 Cor. 12:14-20 Christians have many parts, but one body.....“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” ~ Romans 12:3-5 How is unity achieved? Submission by all to Someone greater than any one part. The most comprehensive statement of unity is found in Eph. 4:1-6 ~ “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Can we achieve Unity in our Diversities? Can we have a blending of commonalities despite our differences? What compromises will need to be made in order to achieve the unity that God calls us to? How can the groups meeting in different buildings with different names and various traditions unify to be accepting of each other ~ to become one ~ in Him?
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 14:48:32 +0000
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