1 Kings 14:1-15:24 / Acts 10:1-23 / Psalm 133 / Proverbs 17:7-8
Unity in diversity – different personalities coming together to produce strength as a community. Harmony in music – an orchestra plays a composition that brings one to tears. Colors blended to make a new color – a work of art is born making one’s heart race with the beauty. What do all these have in common? In each case, there are differing pieces being brought together to produce something that a single entity cannot produce alone.
The benefits of community and unity are many. One is that you can accomplish so much more when connected with others who are like minded and on a similar mission as you are. When you’re weak, another is strong. When you’re strong, another needs your help.
Psalm 133 from the Message How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.
That picture of unity is easy to read about, and it was probably easy for the author to write, but as we’re all well aware, it’s much more difficult and challenging to live in unity! Whether that is your birth family, your family by marriage, your church family, or your friends, to expect that we will get along with each other at all times is not realistic.
No two of us is created alike. Even twins have different personalities, along with likes, dislikes, gifts, talents, etc. Guess what that means? You’re going to have to learn to love someone who is different from you. They will look different, act different, like different things. Differences will exist in – the way they were raised, the types of food they like, the experiences they’ve had so far in life – both good and bad – the color of their skin, eyes and hair, the food they like, the abilities they have mentally, physically and emotionally… and I could go on for hours with this list!
Like the director of one of my favorite series The Chosen has said, “Get used to different!”
What am I to do when someone doesn’t like something I like? I have a few choices. I can get upset, angry, and distance myself from them, or I can celebrate the difference. I can choose to learn from them – or I can shut them off. I hope you choose to learn from those who are different. As a matter of fact, I believe we can learn something from every person we meet if we’re humble enough to admit we don’t know everything.
I’ve seen hesitancy to accept differences, especially in a church setting. I mean, have you ever wondered why we have so many different denominations? On a practical level, the entire body of Christ could not come together in once place because there would be no room (except in Heaven – there will be plenty of space there). But on a spiritual level, every person who has been born into the family of God through Jesus Christ is my brother or sister.
I understand that some people are mean, or dangerous, and I’m not advocating we become intimate with those who would harm us. But apart from harm to our physical, emotional or spiritual being, we have such an opportunity to learn, grow and become richer by choosing to be in relationship with others who want to become like Jesus.
So, find your people. Forgive the ones who have hurt you. Walk away from the ones who are truly harmful. Agree to disagree when it’s trivial matters. But please do not isolate yourself from people who are safe, good, and will bring great treasure into your life. Unity is achieved when we lay aside the differences that don’t matter to extend our hearts to another human being – a human who is as imperfect as we are.
I could probably write for another page, but I want to keep this post relatively short as usual. I understand that you’ve been hurt – by people, by institutions, even by those who say they love Jesus. So have I. And I’ve shared my stories of forgiveness and choosing to move forward. I’ve chosen to trust again, to build again and to allow others in again.
Would you agree to do that with me? Let’s go for unity – harmony – a beautiful orchestration or work of art… I know it’s possible!
