Diversity in the Local Church

As we grow in faith and understanding, our perceptions of discipleship should change. Sometimes these will be barely noticeable changes, sometimes dramatic. I used to believe that in the perfect church everyone was identical in their manner of thought and behavior, but that has sharply changed.

I) Local church is usually diverse in thought

Differing views on use of mechanical instruments of music in private singing worship, morality of Christians serving in the armed forces, the second serving of the Lord’s Supper, authority for using the church building for social events, women using a head covering, and many other such issues confirm this truism

We all tend to desire a society where we think alike (i.e., the Essenes and monasteries)

I have come to realize and appreciate the value of diversity –

1 Corinthians 12:12–19 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?

That is not the same as saying that it does not matter what you believe

Much like financial investments, differing strengths help in different circumstances

II) Schools of thought

Jews divided into four main sects (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots) some further sub-divided into smaller groups (i.e., schools of Rabbis)

There was much more in common than areas of disagreement between these sects, and especially within the sects, yet it is those areas of disagreement that get the emphasis – – leading to division

Acts 23:6–10 ESV

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Local churches often have differences in thinking that are exaggerated by focusing on extremes; one church had some who emphasized grace of God, while others emphasized obedience to commands of God; both are Biblical – ;

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

But, when taken to the extreme, either position will cause one to lose their soul – ;

James 2:24–26 ESV

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Galatians 5:1–4 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

When we no longer respect another and cut off their influence on us, we are in danger of going to extremes –

2 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

III) How to find the value in diversity

One area to value is how the differing views tend to restrain each other from the extremes –

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

But this can only happen in an atmosphere of mutual acceptance and submission – ;

Romans 14:1 ESV

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

It is easy to respect those who agree with us most of the time, but difficult to respect those who always seem to think differently – ,

Romans 14:2–6 ESV

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Romans 14:10 ESV

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

Look at apostles: 1- tax-collector and Zealot, 2- James and John called sons of thunder, 3- Peter was outspoken and perhaps jealous of John, 4- Nathaniel and Thomas would not accept testimony about the Messiah from the others

We must recognize that everyone will not think like we do, but also realize the value to the overall strength of this church of differing ideas and respect for all as children of God.