JJ the Smu (as he is coming to be known in the blog-o-sphere) posted a thought-provoking piece a couple of days ago asking us to think about how we’d like to be known as Christians. He listed several things he’d really rather people thought of and then he asked others to add to the list. A late comer to the comments added “unity” with very little context.
There, my friends, is a loaded term. More loaded than LightBoy’s new potato cannon. And more combustible. This term is used to brow beat more people than Constantine. I don’t even think that’s an exaggeration (if we’re talking straight numbers, percentages and I’m out of line). It’s used to keep people in line with the party line. Keep them from asking too many unsightly, uncomfortable, unnerving questions. Keep them in their place. Keep them in fear. Keep them. The body of Christ is SUPPOSED to live in unity is wielded liked a battle axe.
Lately, I’ve heard more and more people discussing the distinction between unity and conformity. Then they say, with an arched brow, “There **is** a difference, you know.” Many churches use the word unity to enforce conformity of thinking. Several of us called it the uni-mind at our CLB; enforcing like thinking amongst everyone.
I was thinking this morning tho, that what we really might be after in the church is really harmony. Think about that metaphor for a minute. Even unity (without conformity) can be be a straitjacket for something as big and bold as the Body of Christ. Think about many voices together singing a song as one voice … for a really long time. Now think about all those voices singing the song in harmony. Think of the texture and depth and musicality that song now has. Everyone is still singing the same song, they are all singing together, but they are singing the notes that they were born to sing. The basses are singing bass, not soprano and vice versa. Now, let’s add an orchestra to the voices. Now we have people playing instruments in harmony with the people singing in harmony. Rich, textural, beautiful and all working together for the good of one overarching song. But if everyone played or sang the same note for two hours, who would want to listen to that? It would become strident and unpleasant.
Will Samson has an interesting post today about politicians speaking about their faith. I agree with him, sorta. With reservations. I want to extend grace to the Democrats. I think he wants them stumping on their faith. Okay, perhaps I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt here. But I’m linking to his post here for a reason. It is this, I’ve begun to think that speaking of religion and faith in the public square has become very narrow. It has become controlled by a narrow set of people with a narrow vocabulary. People who, if you will, want to listen to one note. They have asked us to listen for only one note. They have defined that note and caused the atmosphere in which we live to be such that now we can only hear that one note.
The problem is that we’re all singing and playing a harmony. We are living and speaking out of many notes. It’s all the same song but no one can hear that song any more. Sometimes a miracle occurs and someone can hear that one special note. But if you don’t play that note for the right amount of time, in the right place, wearing the right clothes … well then, no one will credit you with a proper faith. But you might have one … you might be singing or playing harmony. Who are we to judge? How can we know anymore? I know some might read this and throw the wide path/narrow road scripture at me. I agree with that, but don’t take it out of context. God is a great, big wide, creative God. He didn’t make us all to make one note. We need to learn how to listen to the whole song again, how to hear the melody as well as the harmony or harmonies, how to hear not just the voices but the orchestra too. How to put it all together and say with God of His Creation, it is good.
