Uniformity - The Threat To Unity
Sam Hamstra | May 1, 2008
While God the Father heard the prayer of God the Son and through God the Spirit graced us with a sevenfold unity (Ephesians 4:4-6), we must still work at maintaining unity. The big question then is "How?" In many settings, the answer to that question is that unity comes through uniformity. In other words, unity comes when everyone acts the same, thinks the same, looks the same. In such a setting, individuals who wish to become part of the group must be assimilated by adopting the culture, the thinking, the look, of the group. The outsider must become "blue" or face exclusion by the group.
Now, unity through uniformity, and uniformity through assimilation, actually works well in many settings, such as football teams. Perhaps you have heard coaches talk about "the program," or "program guys," or building the "program." The word "program" is, in many ways, a synonym for unity through uniformity by assimilation.
While that process of maintaining unity may work well with a football team, it is NOT the manner in which the Scriptures call Christians to live out their unity. The apostle Paul, for one, by comparing the church to a human body (I Corinthians 12), teaches that we maintain unity not through uniformity, but by embracing our God-given diversity. After all, wonders Paul, how can we expect everyone to be an ear or an arm and still have a complete body? We can't. So, unity with diversity must be the norm for Christ-followers who long to maintain unity.
But that begs the question, "How do we embrace unity with diversity?" One answer is through the gift of hospitality. The late Henri Nouwen, in his book Reaching Out, makes the case for hospitality as the way toward unity with diversity. In that classic work, he describes hospitality as the "creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend, instead of of an enemy." For Nouwen, "hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment. It is not an educated intimidation with good books, good stories and good works, but the liberation of fearful hearts so that words can find roots and bear ample fruit. It is not a method of making our God and our way into the criteria of happiness, but the opening of an opportunity to others to find their God and their way."
When Christ-followers practice hospitality, they welcome individuals with their differences into their group just as they are! And, in the end, the group remains one, but with diversity.
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I find it interesting that in Scripture Jesus exhorts the disciples to follow Him, to come to Him, and to bring others to Him. As far as I know, He didn’t command the disciples to dress like him, wear their hair like his, or trim their beard to resemble his. In John 10, the Lord Jesus remarks that His sheep know His voice. Those who know and truly love Him practice loving other people.
I picked up a book several months ago by Dan Kimball entitled, “They Like Jesus But Not the Church.” How did we allow the Christian church to become a caricature? Territorial and dogmatic “wars” about some aspects of doctrine that have little or no bearing on a person knowing Jesus Christ. Jesus was magnet and a light. Conformity, especially when expected or imposed upon others, is an extinguisher of light, a repulsion of diversity, an oppressor of the joy of Christ.
I’m frustrated that the Reformed label the Charismatics as demonic, and the Charismatics label their brethren as Spirit-less (the opposite of Spirit-filled) and lifeless, while the liberal Mainstream denominations rejoice over their openness and inclusion to all comers, as their congregations die off.
Hopefully, we will one day learn that to be different isn’t sin. The real sin is rejecting real fellowship with Jesus in order to cater fellowship around our own personal proclivities. Even the most loving family is not absent of conflict. The church family should be no different; we should be able to address conflicts among ourselves, arrive at a godly resolution, and move forward in relationship together.
There is a ridiculous expectation in our modernistic culture that Christian fellowship is supposed to be peaches and cream and roses and puppy dogs. But that’s not a biblical illustration of the Christian life.
Good thoughts.
I think the biggest challenge to unity through diversity is the inherent awkwardness.
Gathering with Christians like oneself is easy because it takes no time to know what the push of their ministry is. If you walk into one of the 5,000+ Tomlin-singing worship congregations in America you’ll be able to figure out that a personal relationship with Jesus revolving around humility and grace are evident (depending on the song choice).
However, if I walk into a gospel church, I have no idea what to expect. Will it be the same? Different? How will what I believe be challenged by the music? (Music is the easiest example.)
For instance, when we heard on Sunday, “Enlarge my territory,” to what ends are we singing that? Without having a relationship with those singing it, I can only assume.
Therein lies the challenge - to take the time to understand the perspectives of those who sing, clap and look different than ourselves. Until one does that, it is really hard to feel like part of any community.
So, if unity through diversity is to work, it must be unity through relationships as well. That is the only way to get through the awkwardness and on to building Christ’s kingdom.