UNITY IN DIVERSITY
I was discussing the Bible with some brethren who interpret the scriptures from what I would call a “more legalistic approach” to biblical interpretation than what I believe is correct. During the course of our discussion one of the brethren asked me if I was a part of the “unity in diversity” movement (I can’t remember his exact wording but it was something like that). When he asked that I got the impression that there was some specific movement out there that I was not specifically familiar with and I hesitated to answer the question because I wasn’t sure what all was included in that label. Since then I have thought a great deal about the question and am more fully prepared to give a more complete answer.
As I look back at the first century church I see passages which seem to me to be talking specifically about unity in diversity. For example, 1 Corinthians 12 is full of verses that talk about diversity as in different kinds of gifts (v. 4), different kinds of service (v. 5), different kinds of working (v. 6), but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Then in chapter 11 he talks about the diversity in incomes and financial status.
As I look back at the first century church I see passages which seem to me to be talking specifically about unity in diversity. For example, 1 Corinthians 12 is full of verses that talk about diversity as in different kinds of gifts (v. 4), different kinds of service (v. 5), different kinds of working (v. 6), but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
That sure sounds like unity in diversity to me—but wait, there’s more!
12 The body is a unit (as in unity), though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
So he’s talked about the diversity in roles that members of the body fulfill. He’s talked about the diversity in racial make up, religious backgrounds, and slave/freedmen status.
That sure sounds like unity in diversity to me—but wait, there’s more!
We see in 1 Corinthians 8 that in this body there were very diverse opinions about doctrinal issues—specifically, eating meat offered to idols. This chapter not only reveals the facts about those doctrines but it also points out that the church is diverse in that it is made up of a wide range of spiritual maturity in it’s members. Some are weak brothers, some are not. Some are correct in their thinking and some are not. Paul does not require either side of this differing doctrinal opinions to change before they should accept or be accepted by the other.
Then in chapter 11 he talks about the diversity in incomes and financial status.
In spite of all this diversity—in gifts, roles, backgrounds, status, maturity and doctrinal positions—God, through Paul, tells them they can have unity and that this, in fact, is what he is asking them to strive for. They each have an important role to play.
If you listened to my more legalistic brethren, they would say that the only way to have unity is through perfect agreement on doctrinal issues—specifically “the five acts of worship.” This is not biblical. As my friend, the Middleman says, “Unity is not the same as conformity” and if someone has become a child of God through belief in Jesus as the son of God and has put him on in baptism, we have no biblical right to reject him based upon his unwillingness to conform to our interpretation on worship regulations—even if he’s wrong. That is up to God (Romans 14).
So to answer the original question, yes, I do believe in unity in diversity, because that is what the Bible teaches. The more I think about it, how could I believe otherwise. God Bless, Dennis
1mm (Comment this)
Lance (Comment this)
When I hear "unity in diversity" the first verse that comes to mind is Revelation 7:9, a beautiful picture of worshipers, certainly a diverse group and one unified in their worship of the one true God. Rev 7:9-10 says, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from EVERY NATION and ALL TRIBES and PEOPLES and TONGUES, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"
I believe this is the fulfillment of Jesus's words in Matthew 24:14, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Surely, if God intends to have worshipers from all nations, all tribes, and all people groups, worshiping Him in all languages, then that is going to be a great picture of unity in diversity. We will all be worshiping Him for the same work on the cross and for the same saving grace. And surely we will come to faith in Him from very different cultural backgrounds- what a magnificent picture! (Comment this)
Well said Annie. Amen! (Comment this)