Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had similar ideas and practices?
Perhaps not.
My family is in the process of planning for a vacation when we all will gather for a week. While in principle this sounds delightful, it practice it isn’t easy. Some of us love the outdoors. However, one member is a mosquito magnet and another has asthma. They do not embrace the thought of adventures in nature. Even among the outdoor lovers, there is divergence. I like long distance hikes, which require a quick pace. Others prefer a slower gait so that then can enjoy the details of the scenery. Part of our family, including 2 grandchildren, could spend an entire day swimming. Others can tolerate it for only so long. Some of us are morning people and others are night owls. As a planner, trying to consider all these variables can be overwhelming. I wonder at times how we will ever survive a week together without everyone getting grumpy.
But then, I recall past vacations and the blessings that arise out of our family diversity. Those that prefer indoors remind us that playing games around a table is valuable time together to laugh and reconnect through conversation. Those that favor time in nature allows time for the “inside people” to get out and enjoy the beauty of creation. We’ve also learned to give space for each family unit to do their own thing, without judgment. This gives each person the opportunity to experience that which blesses others, but also satisfies their own needs. In the give and take of our different opinions and expectations, all of us have a richer experience of our time away from work and home.
The same experience arises in healthy churches. Diversity in opinion and expression enriches our life together. I am reminded that local church worship life began this month with a celebration of World Communion Sunday. For me, what makes this Sunday special is not a matter of timing – that Christian Communions all share communion on the same Sunday. Rather, it is a recognition of the variety of Christian traditions throughout the world and the richness each expression brings to the Body of Christ. Given that the Holy Spirit guides our understanding of scripture in ways that relate to our lives, the diversity of life circumstance in the global church deepens and expands the way we hear God speak to the faithful.
I am reminded of the very first Disciple Bible Study I taught. It was the second lesson, which covered a large chunk of the beginning of Genesis. As we began our discussion, one of the older members of the group asked, “Now which of these stories are myths and which are ‘true.’” A younger member responded immediately, “They all are true and happened just the way they are described.” Talk about diversity of opinion!!!! However, this clear divergence in scriptural perspective did not detract from the rest of our year-long study. In fact, it brought a richness to our discussions. While I have taught many Disciple Bible Study classes since then, that group ranks as one of my all-time favorites and the depth of our discussion was rarely eclipsed in other settings.
Within my ministry, my understanding of dedicated discipleship has been enhanced through the variety of settings I’ve served and the uniqueness of each person God placed in my life. While I didn’t always agree with the conclusions that each individual arrived at, I was blessed to see the seriousness they took in being faithful to the call of Christ.
Paul’s grand vision, stated in Galatians 3:28, imagines the barriers that separate human beings (he uses terms of ethnicity, socio-economic status and gender) would be bridged through faith and there would be unity in the Body of Christ. Unity is not the same as uniformity. Certainly people of the 6-fold description in Galatians 3:28 all assisted Paul and the early Church in the proclamation of the gospel. Each contributed their own voice, and because of that the church grew and lives were transformed.
May God bless you in your work, so that you will help others grow in their understanding of faith and faithfulness, even as they bring growth to you.
If you would like to view past editions of Moments with Mike, follow this link: https://corridordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/