I am deeply troubled. I am troubled by Congress. I am troubled by the President. I am troubled by the American Church. I am troubled by our society. I am deeply troubled.
A democracy does not need agreement to thrive. A democracy does however need mutual respect, deference, and cooperation in order to flourish. I am troubled by the American Church because in my opinion, it suffers from a demand for homogeneity. If you google homogeneity you find this definition: the quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind. It seems Christians in America have been deceived into believing that there is no room for opposing viewpoints when it comes to political parties, candidates, and values. For some of you, you are convinced that any professing Christian who voted for Barack Obama violated Scripture, shamed Christ, and filled Heaven with sorrow. For others of you, you are convinced that any professing Christian who voted for Donald Trump violated Scripture, shamed Christ, and filled Heaven with sorrow. And neither of you are open to the possibility that both of you were equally true to Christ in your decision. Why? Because the American Church suffers from an unhealthy desire for homogeneity.
We have been convinced that unless everyone agrees with everything we believe, those in disagreement are wrong. We have lost sight of Paul’s expectation in Colossians 3:14 where he says that we should clothe ourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony. The NASB uses instead of “perfect harmony” says “the perfect bond of unity.” This greek phrase is actually teleiotes (perfect) sundesmos (bond of unity). This word for perfect is the same word found in Hebrews 6:1 that translates to maturity. And the word for bond of unity is the same Paul uses in Ephesians 4 to speak of a bond of peace. In every instance, sameness is never implied or stated! On the contrary, the context for Biblical instruction regarding unity always necesitates differences. That is why the NLT employs the word harmony.
Harmony is only possible when there is acceptance of one another in spite of our differences. Paul so frequently writes about harmony because he understood that a Christ centered community carried a message called The Gospel that would have a universal appeal, drawing together people from all cultures and ethnicities who’s cultural norms and prioritized values would continually be at odds with one another. Sameness will always fracture diversity. Harmony perseveres diversity and creates true Biblical unity…teleiotes sundesmos.
Uniformity and conformity have always been the tools to tyrants, especially theological tyrants who prey on the weak character of people who prefer the idea of being right over the Biblical mandate of being righteous. You cannot be righteous and not make room for someone who is equally invested in life as a devoted follower Jesus and who has an opinion and viewpoint that is the polar opposite of yours. Homogeneity deceives us into believing that those in disagreement must conform in order to preserve uniformity, a desire of humanity. Scripture however says bind yourselves together through mutual respect walking in harmony even when you cannot be in agreement, a desire of spiritual maturity.
Are there times when Christians should expect conformity? Certainly! Universal morality is certainly central in the teachings of Jesus. In fact, if we abandon all morality, we create a permissive environment. However, if we inappropriately make all things we prefer universal, we create a legalistic, exclusive environment. The harmony of which Scripture speaks necessitates a proper balance between that which is universal that that which is relative. The first century church had this same struggle! They had disagreements regarding dietary restrictions practiced by Christian Jews and whether they should be mandated for Gentile Christians. Paul’s counsel: stop taking those things that are uniquely sacred to you and teaching them inappropriately as universal moralities for all.
If when you look around the church you attend and the relational circles you enjoy and everyone looks like you, believes like you, votes like you, aligns politically like you, lives like you, and thinks like you…well, you suffer from homogeneity. Do you prefer sameness? Are you forsaking harmony? In this season of Christmas, are you making room for Jesus in someone who disagrees with you, especially politically? Or are you relegating Him back to the manger again? And just so you know, He still prefers the humble company of a few barnyard animals over the false comfort of Hotel Homogeneity.
Pastor Fred