Unity and Diversity in the Church

The founders of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ believed in the unity of Christ’s Body on earth, the Church. But from its birth the church has been diverse in its gifts, its traditions, and in its theology.

Paul saw the Corinthian church struggling with its diversity. So, he wrote to them, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Cor. 1: 10b NRSV). But is it realistic for us to truly be one?

Historically, even Judaism was not as unified as we may think—especially at the time of Jesus and Paul. You know the two main parties—the Pharisees and the Saducees. Paul was a Pharisee. And there are some who argue that Jesus, himself, was a Pharisee. Among other common beliefs of the Pharisees was the belief in personal resurrection.

But there were other parties within Judaism. There were the Essenes who lived in the desert, alone. They believed in a final cosmic struggle between good and evil which God would eventually win, and then God’s reign would be set up on earth forever. Then there were the Zealots. This was a conservative group within Judaism which advocated the overthrow of the Romans. Judas Iscariot may have been a Zealot. Some scholars think that Judas may have become of follower of Jesus because he believed he would lead an uprising against the Romans and restore the Jewish nation. In fact, there are some who argue that Judas handed Jesus over to the Sanhedrin to force Jesus into open rebellion in which he would call down the wrath of God to destroy Roman rule. There were other sects or parties within Judaism, but these were the main divisions.

In Corinthian the church was divided along the lines of who baptized them. Moreover, they argued about who had the greatest most significant gifts from God’s Spirit.

Today, in the 21st century, we have more divisions in the Christian Church than Paul could even imagine. We have Roman Catholics, Lutherans (several synods in fact), Baptists (there are more divisions among Baptists than there are among the Lutherans), Presbyterians, Methodists, and Disciples of Christ, to name only a few. There are Protestant, evangelical, Pentecostal, and Reformed. We have liberal, conservative and fundamentalists. And this is only in Western Christianity not to mention all the divisions among the Orthodox Churches of the East. So, today, it looks more and more like the Body of Christ is divided.

Was unity in the church a misguided dream of the restoration movement—a good idea but a little naïve? In what sense can the church be unified today?

We can celebrate the diversity of gifts among believers. The variety of our traditions adds “salt” to the church. And the varied ways we perceive the reality of God are a tribute to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But as different as we are there are at least two things that unite the churches: baptism and communion.

We are all baptized according to different traditions into One Christ. And we each share the meal Jesus ordained among his followers even if we celebrate it in diversity of form. So, you see, the Body of Christ on earth is indeed one. We are one in Christ.

Golden Light

Notes from the Study


The new Jerusalem is described in the book of revelation.

16 The city lies foursquare, . . . 18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. Revelation 21:16–21 (NRSV)

Waking up early in these brisk Autumn mornings is truly a blessing. In its rising the sun blazes across the horizon flooding the still sleeping earth with cool, bright light. The remaining leaves on the trees catch the rays of light and filter them, but they can’t take away the golden color of the of first light.

This morning as I looked out the window the description of the New Jerusalem came to my mind. The light filling the air could have been reflecting off the “golden street” described for us in Revelation 21.

Of course the Golden Street as well as the bejeweled gates are metaphors. But reflecting on the golden light renewed my faith that after the deep darkness of the night God brings forth a new, golden day for the earth, for each of us, and for the church.

Sometimes we are tempted to look back at the “golden days” of our past and long for life to return us there–to that day of promise and plenty. But God does not want us to go back. God leads us steadily onward, day by day, from still waters and green pastures into a newer, brighter, “golden age.”

God will not force us to take one step forward, but the Lord is ahead of us, calling to us to follow.

Almighty and gentle shepherd prepare us for the journey ahead into the golden light of a new day. Help us to move beyond the darkness that sometimes threatens to swallow us whole. Open our eyes to the work you have for us and fill us with faith and hope. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finding Yourself

In the 60s it seemed like everyone was on a mission, “to find themselves.” We asked, “Why was I born? What difference does my life make? What was I meant to do with my life?”

In search of purpose in life some decided to live a communal life, sharing everything. Others went into the Peace Corps or VISTA. Some just wandered around this country and the world hoping to “find” some meaning. And a few just tried to escape into the drug scene. But I think most of us just did what Sharon Budzier reported she has done. “I've just worked at a job, supported my church, and tried to be a decent human being.”

Then, Sharon had an important revelation: “It has finally dawned on me that I am meant to go about God's business while I'm going about mine. Of the many choices I make every day, each one can be evaluated in light of one question: What would God want me to do?”

Today the popular phrase is WWJD, What Would Jesus Do. But the question should be the one Sharon asks in her daily life, “What would God want me to do in this situation?”

In my opinion Sharon has truly “found herself” in realizing that purpose in life doesn’t come from doing something the world calls significant. Our purpose in life is to do go about our daily lives with our hearts open to God’s purpose and leading.

Quotations from The Upper Room Daily Devotional—email edition, July 29, 2004. © The Upper Room 1996-2004.