Day 33 - Diversity In Unity

Read 1 Peter 4:7-11

I've gone through so much other stuff
That walking down the aisle was tough
But now I know it's not enough -
I want to be a clone.
I asked the Lord into my heart.
They said that that's the way to start,
But now you've got to play the part.
I want to be a clone.

Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight.
Cloneliness is next to godliness - right?

So now I see the whole design:
My church is an assembly line.
The parts are there, I'm feeling fine.
I want to be a clone.
I've learned enough to stay afloat,
But not so much I rock the boat.

From ‘Be A Clone”  Steve Taylor

One of the common criticisms of the Christian faith is that it creates a bunch of clones, with everyone    believing the same thing.  Some think this results in a homogeneous religion, without creativity or diversity.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Bible actually celebrates differences within community. Throughout the pages of the Bible we witness this wonderful distinctiveness.  It reveals to us that everyone is created uniquely and encouraged to develop interdependently.  We are most connected to God in worship when we are drawn into that place of community. We, as followers of Christ, are to serve in community through our originality, through our distinctive God-given gifts. 

It is really comical to imagine that a body could function if we were all the same body part so then why do we try to fit people into our box?  Why do we want people to look like us?  It is our natural learned tendencies that get us stuck here.  You don’t have to go very far to see this in branding and merchandising.  The enemy would love nothing more than to get us all looking the same because his goal is for us to blend in and not stand out.  Imagine if we all understood our diversity in its fullness.  It would open the door to greater understanding and freedom and open us up to seeing who we can be for the glory of God.