Unity... not Uniformity.

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I have been meditating on the following passage from Ephesians 4:1-16 ::

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.

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

I've been meditating on it since I began reading chapter 10 of Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch's book :: The shaping of things to come (yes... I am still reading this book!!!)

In chapter 10 they propose a Scriptural method for leadership... based on the giftings of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers ::

...It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service../

This has made me think that what the church as in the Body of Christ needs right now... more than anything... is unity and NOT uniformity in the Spirit.

Let me explain my thoughts here... there is nothing I dislike more than to be told what I should or shouldn't think/do because I am a Christian. Facebook friends around the end of October last year will know what I mean. I react very strongly AGAINST people who start conversations with the phrase.

I believe wholeheartedly in the "ones" in this passage:

• one body
• one Spirit
• one hope
• one Lord
• one faith
• one baptism
• one God and Father of all... who is over all and through all and in all.

This is unity... but this doesn't demand uniformity. The very passage speaks of having different giftings... we are gifted with different things so that we can make a stronger WHOLE than the SUM OF OUR PARTS.

We are all different. We all have different experiences... different baggage... different tastes and preferences and worldviews. This diversity makes the collective whole stronger.

I have a love/hate relationship with denominations. I am part of a denomination that I love and hate... or should I say... there are elements that I love and elements that drive me to utter despair. For some people reading this... this paragraph will be no less than heresy and sedition... but please hold on for a minute.

No denomination has a monopoly on absolute truth... no denomination has all the answers... not one! Each denomination has elements that are right and elements that are wrong.

When we stand alone... we are incomplete. When we stand together... we become who we should be... or at least we are closer to realising this.

Denominations work because of the very diversity you could argue they seek to control. You go where it works for you... but, in doing so, you must realise that there are more than carrots in the salad bowl.

I hate the analogy of a melting pot. What comes out of a melting pot? A glop that tastes of everything but isn't anything in particular. I prefer the analogy of the salad bowl... where we each retain the thing that makes us unique whilst contributing to a bigger thing... a salad.

A salad is not one thing... a carrot doesn't make a salad. Tomatoes, carrot, lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, rocket... etc... make up a salad. Its not about uniformity. Its about unity in our diversity.

Look at the body... there is nothing more diverse and yet unified than a human body... and it is the analogy used within the Bible for the church.

All this said... the point I am coming to is don't box me into your definitions of what a follower of Christ. The term "follower of Christ" may mean something to me and may mean something different to someone else.

The term doesn't just mean "right wing Republican"... it can and does mean "left wing Liberal" too.

The term doesn't just mean "homophobic & racist"... it can and does mean "accepting & compassionate to others" too.

Just because I am a follower of Christ does not mean I will do certain things and refrain from doing other things. There isn't a new Law! That said... I am not advocating a hypocritical life. You cannot serve two masters... no one can.

Let's not negatively focus on what divides us... be it our gender or our sexuality... be it our social status or where we call home... be it our political convictions or our record collections... but positively consider these elements as being the things that shape us.

Let's move from the desire for uniformity in all things and instead... let's focus on unity... if we believe in "the ones"... then let's come together... let's look beyond our boxes and focus on God and His mission here on Earth. I think we need to... if we wish to grow up!