1. There is danger in confusing uniformity and unity
Uniformity offers a pseudo-unity. After all, it is possible to build something (even a ministry) on uniformity and call it unity, when in reality it is not unity at all. A church with uniformity gathers people from the same socio-economic strata, the same cultural background, the same ethnicity, and the same social aspirations. If the “unity” is based on something other than Christ, folks attend each week with people just like them and miss the joy of true Christian unity.
2. There is tragedy in settling for uniformity
Uniformity does not require grace, but unity does. We only have Christian unity because Jesus clothes us in His righteousness, though we deserve to remain clothed in our sin.
3. God insists that His people live in unity, not in uniformity
He loves all people, created all people, died for all people, and is populating heaven with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9). In fact, our unity is most pronounced when we are unified with people who are not like us because the source of our unity—Christ—is put on display.
4. There should be distinction in the body of Christ, but not division
Just as uniformity does not equate unity, distinction does not equate division. The apostle Paul told a diverse group of believers in Galatia that they were all one in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28)
In the churches of Galatia, there were Gentiles and Jews, males and females, and people from different socio-economic backgrounds. The Christian faith did not eliminate those distinctions, but Christ’s righteousness freely given transcended those distinctions. We don’t and can’t stand before God because of our race, status, or gender. We stand before Him because He has clothed us in His righteousness, and we stand before Him with others who are different from us who have also been clothed in that same righteousness.
5. A church should long for unity, not uniformity
She should long to gather people who are different from one another. Unity, not uniformity, is a mark of a church’s maturity.
Eric Geiger is a Vice President at Lifeway, leading the Resources Division. He has authored several books including the bestselling church leadership book, Simple Church.
