““Church Unity is that state in which a particular local congregation by the effectual operations of the redemptive grace of God has attained and maintains as its prevailing climate a fundamental oneness and harmony of understanding, affection, purpose and activity while unashamedly expressing diversity and individuality in areas that do not disturb the unity but rather enhance it” ”
Do we not long to be a church that displays this unity through our diversity and individuality, one that does not disturb our unity but enhances it?
In part one we saw why unity and diversity ought to be important to us as a church. So now we will discuss what it looks like for us to maintain this unity and diversity? (Ephesians 4:2)
In order to do this, we need the following qualities which we should pray for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
Practical Ways to Maintain Unity
Humility - We can appreciate C.J Mahaney’s definition of humility, “Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” When we begin to see more of God’s holiness and our sinfulness we lose all dependence on our own strength and we stop thinking too much of ourselves. When we begin to think of ourselves too highly; we easily end up looking down on each other rather than affirming each other in the Lord. As we endeavor to maintain unity, this will involve us responding to each other with humility being other focused rather than self-focused.
Gentleness/Meekness - In the Bible, this virtue primarily is exercised when conflicts arise. This attitude is expressed in submission to the will of God as well as displayed towards others even when opposed and mistreated. Paul assumes that in the body of Christ there will be conflict amongst members. When this happens, we can either choose to respond with gentleness extending grace or exhibit anger and wrath towards one another which brings dishonor to God.
Patience - This means to be long tempered as opposed to short-tempered. We will not be quick to retaliate when wronged and bear patiently with the faults and irritabilities of others. Naturally when people irritate us, we are prone to completely cut them off, not be bothered or criticize that individual for not living up to our standards. The Gospel frees us to overlook people’s faults and see them for who they are in Christ. He is patient with all men, therefore we can be patient as well.
Bear with one another in love/accept one another - This means literally to put up with each other. By bearing with one another we display to others that they are valuable in God’s eyes. We all have different talents, gifts, personalities and ways of seeing things. When we experience these differences in our relationships we can sometimes devalue others by trying to make them become like us. However, the beauty of the Gospel is that God brings people who are diverse and unites them into one family to showcase the power of the cross. We can therefore rejoice and embrace others' differences!
Practical Ways to Pursue Diversity
Pray - We need the Spirit's help to move us to be intentional in pursuing relationships with others that we would not naturally seek. Diversity sought by our own strength would just be for selfish purposes and will not display the unity we share in Christ. We can pray with assurance and confidence for diversity in our church because God's heart is for a diverse people (Matthew 24:14).
Learn - God shows no favoritism. He delights in all the various ways we express our faith and worship. Our ethnic backgrounds should cause us to seek to learn from each other as it gives the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of a God given diversity. Let's not forget that each person's ethnicity and heritage was sovereignly given to them by God, therefore, no one should be ashamed to express their devotion to God with their ethnic identity or devalue their cultural heritage (Acts 17:26-27).
Listen - God has seen fit to place variety in the body, so that these various parts would function together properly (1 Corinthians 12:1-19). Every individual is necessary! A pursuit of diversity will entail that we strive to listen to each other's perspectives and understand each other's struggles and concerns. Every member is necessary and has a voice and part to play in the body.
Love - Until we are with Christ in glory we will experience the effects of sin which causes us to divide over our differences rather than work together with our differences (Romans 12:9-10). It's in these very moments we need to be reminded of what Christ did for us and see these moments as opportunities to display the love of Christ testifying to the unifying power of God's love. God’s character is most vividly seen when our love crosses ethnic lines as this is a supernatural work of God. Pastor Isaac Adams states, “it is being both color blind and color conscious.”
Let us seek to passionately commit ourselves to endeavor to maintain our unity in the bond of peace as well as be intentional in our pursuit of diversity motivated to show the love of Christ.
Our labors in being intentional to preserve our unity and to express diversity is not in vain. It testifies to the infinite greatness and glory of our Saviour, who bled for his bride, full of diverse people united in love forever worshiping him for all eternity. Amen!
Grace & Peace,
HRF Elders