Day 6: Unity in Diversity

Paul writes in Romans 12:4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” One could argue that Paul’s focus here on the individual is really to stress that each of us is part of the collective unity called the Body and that each of us is connected with every other member of the Body. So one might say: There is no effort here to emphasize the value of individuality, but the contrary, to say that the body is all that counts.

Would it not be better to say it this way: Paul is saying that our true individuality is found—discovered, experienced—in relationship to the body of Christ? Members (parts) of one another. One by one. Individually. Here’s what Paul is saying: I am part of you. You are part of me. I am like your eye or your ear or your hand or your foot. And you are like my eye or my ear or my hand or my foot. Each individual, Paul says, is part of the other individuals in the body.

Which means that my individuality—my individual identity, as God has created me to be—cannot be known except in serving you as I rely upon Christ. And yours cannot be known except in serving others in reliance on Christ. That’s what hands and feet and eyes and ears do. They serve. That’s why we have gifts. And what a beautiful thing to behold when our individual gifts then are given in a manner and way for the unity of the whole.

This also means that there is much diversity within the Body and means that there is a need for racial harmony and ethnic diversity within it. Paul also says in Ephesians 3:6, “The Gentiles are fellow heirs [meaning: with the Jewish believers], members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” What that means is that the unity of the body of Christ created in Christ includes the nations. All the races and all the ethnic groups. By coming into union with Christ, they come into union with me, and you. And since Paul doesn’t make a fixed distinction between the body of Christ locally and the body of Christ universally, we mustn’t either.

So what does this mean for us today? I think that we have become reliant on our own self-sufficiency, I know I am guilty of it too. And yet, I need you, you need me and we need Jesus! But, here in the United States its about “you do you” when really this individual thinking then minimizes and shuts down unity intended within the Body. It shuts down diversity, different giftings, other thoughts, etc. Because “if it’s not how I would do it then you are doing it wrong” This is where division comes, where strife happens and wounds occur because we would rather sit upon our thrones of pride rather than humbling ourselves to see the beauty staring right back at us.

Father we come before you and say thank you that you see no difference between us. You call us by name and have given each of us unique gifts, talents and ways to steward those. Today we repent for the ways that we have fallen into the facade of individuality when you call for unity of spirit and truth. May the marriage of the two occur in our lives, in Your Body of believers and may that be the overflow in which we join hand in hand to fight the good fight! To see the person next to us and say “thank you for being apart of this Body and what you bring to the table”. Jesus there is such richness of diversity in Your Kingdom and today may Your Kingdom come on earth, within the Body of Christ, within the nation of the United States as it is in Heaven! Amen