A Community of Diversity
It has been a while since my last blog on the distinctive traits of New Testament churches, and to get us back into that discussion I’d like to point out something that up till now has only been hinted at in previous entries. What I want us to dwell on today is that NT churches presumed and promoted reciprocal diversity.
Now don’t get intimidated by the words here. The idea of “reciprocal diversity” is simply a way to say that churches consisted of all kinds of different people, from different races, different backgrounds, different ages, different genders, etc., who served one another for the benefit of everyone. “Reciprocal” describes things “that complement one another;” or things “given or done in return” for something else. And “diversity” is just another word for “a variety.” So again, the church is made up of different people with a variety of gifts and abilities who all give themselves for the good of the whole group.
This is exactly the picture we see when Paul mentions the “body of Christ” in Romans 12:3-8 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v3 bibrefromans12v4 bibrefromans12v5 bibrefromans12v6 bibrefromans12v7 bibrefromans12v8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-30 bibref1corinthians12 bibref1corinthians12v1 bibref1corinthians12v2 bibref1corinthians12v3 bibref1corinthians12v4 bibref1corinthians12v5 bibref1corinthians12v6 bibref1corinthians12v7 bibref1corinthians12v8 bibref1corinthians12v9 bibref1corinthians12v10 bibref1corinthians12v11 bibref1corinthians12v12 bibref1corinthians12v13 bibref1corinthians12v14 bibref1corinthians12v15 bibref1corinthians12v16 bibref1corinthians12v17 bibref1corinthians12v18 bibref1corinthians12v19 bibref1corinthians12v20 bibref1corinthians12v21 bibref1corinthians12v22 bibref1corinthians12v23 bibref1corinthians12v24 bibref1corinthians12v25 bibref1corinthians12v26 bibref1corinthians12v27 bibref1corinthians12v28 bibref1corinthians12v29 bibref1corinthians12v30. Paul presumes (that is, takes for granted) that there are “many” people (however, ‘many’ that might be) who are different in spiritual giftedness.
Consider Paul’s instruction to the Romans: “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v4 bibrefromans12v5).
And to the Corinthians he says: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 4:6-7 bibref1corinthians4 bibref1corinthians4v6 bibref1corinthians4v7).
Not only do we need diversity so that the body can be complete, the context of diversity is also the perfect platform for displaying the “one anothers” in the NT, in particular, love for one another (Romans 12:9-16; 13:8-10 bibrefromans12 bibrefromans12v9 bibrefromans12v10 bibrefromans12v11 bibrefromans12v12 bibrefromans12v13 bibrefromans12v14 bibrefromans12v15 bibrefromans12v16 bibrefromans13 bibrefromans13v8 bibrefromans13v9 bibrefromans13v10). Church (membership) is a recognizable commitment to love one another regardless of our differences rather than avoid one another.
That means churches were not (properly) formed in order to escape those who are different or who disagree. And though smaller group meetings of similar people can be beneficial, they are not meant to replace entirely gathering with the entire church.
Those who isolate themselves (cf. Proverbs 18:1 bibrefproverbs18 bibrefproverbs18v1), or their particular sub-group are not to be commended but corrected. They are potentially guilty of pride, bitterness, jealousy, self-centeredness, etc., and should be exhorted to avoid “forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25 bibrefhebrews10 bibrefhebrews10v25).