12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Definitions
Unity: A whole or totality as combining all its parts into one; the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole.

Uniformity: The state or quality of being uniform; overall sameness; something uniform (in other words duplicated, boring,
predictable, unoriginal)

Is the desire of the church to make people uniform or to be unified?

–Pause-Ponder-Process–

It is startling to hear how many people see the church as a place of uniformity, a big-brother process plant conforming people to their liking. Does this really surprise you? Is the church sending a clear message? I have visited more churches with worship standards far exceeding the “friendly–come and discover God” platform that they profess.

Too often the church turns its nose up at those that walk through their hallowed doors. They are quick to make assumptions based on the outer appearance and mannerism: Levi’s, flip flops, tattoos, hair styles & colors or piercings. Are we saying we do not want them or that they wont want to be a part of our fellowship?

If we are all using the bible to establish clear definitive guidelines, why are there so many clearly different guidelines, guidelines that go in so many clear directions? When we are told not to conform to the world we live, is that emphasis on our personal thoughts, deeds and actions or on our appearance. It appears to me that we have placed the cart before the horse. We commonly assume that because one is hip in their appearance they have conformed to this world. Does this really make any sense? Don’t dress like you live in 2008, that would be conformity. Instead take a stand and dress from 1978 or better yet 1948! Did Jesus conform to the world because he wore the clothing and sandals of his days?

Am I saying anything goes, that there shouldn’t be any standard? Some would say I am, but No. My personal thought is this. The standard should be Jesus Christ! In other words, the personal traits of Jesus Christ alone. The way he lived, spoke, walked, taught and cared for people. I don’t see anywhere in the bible where Jesus said or implied that you must first clean the outside of the glass to be his disciple. This outside cleaning is what the world sees. They are not seeing the transforming process of becoming a new person because we’ve taken things into our own hands.

If we allow the Holy Spirit to work the outside becomes clean from what’s inside of it. It’s an inside-out process and not the reverse. We’ve taken the power and glory from God when we manipulate, yes manipulate people to change according to our desire and timing. This is hypocritical teaching and thinking. Clean a drunk up and all you have is a clean drunk for a few hours. And we wonder why the back door is larger than the front door.

I’ll close with this thought, when you walk into worship service what should you see? I certainly hope it isn’t mini-me’s (pastor clones)! There must be diversity. Unity is best expressed through diversity; unique, original and colorful people coming together for one reason. That one reason must be Christ Jesus alone. So let us embrace each other’s diversity so that we and the world will see that it is God that we all have centrally in common and not a set of conforming rules.

Unity Rocks!