Unity in Diversity: Our Great Opportunity

Embracing Differences Without Compromising Faith

Every day, we navigate a world filled with differences—differences in opinion, belief, political alignment, and so much more.

Whether these differences arise within our own faith communities or in broader cultural contexts, they can leave us feeling conflicted. How do we stay true to our convictions while fulfilling Jesus’ command to love others well? Especially when those "others" believe, think, or live in ways that are in conflict with our own worldview?

The body of Christ, as it was originally designed, is wildly diverse. It is made up of people from every culture, tradition, and walk of life, united by a shared faith in Jesus. Yet, within this diversity, we are called to be one.

In his famous declaration, the apostle Paul reminds us that in Christ, distinctions that divide the world—ethnicity, social status, gender—lose their grip over us: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

The early church was meant to be a picture of unity in diversity, a people whose relationships transcended societal norms and divisions.

But how do we live out this vision of unity in a world where polarization seems to be the order of the day? The task is certainly not easy. It requires a conscious effort to embrace difference without compromising on truth.

More importantly, it challenges us to recognize that our unity is rooted not in our shared opinions or lifestyle or politics, but in our shared relationship with Jesus.

Recognizing the Beauty of Difference

One of the most unique aspects of Christianity is that we are not all meant to think or act the same. Christianity doesn’t require uniformity; instead, it celebrates the richness that comes from unity amidst diverse expressions of faith.

We don’t have to agree on everything to be unified in Christ. In fact, it is often in the spaces of disagreement that we grow the most.

Consider the well-known relationship between R.C. Sproul and Billy Graham. These two widely-known Christian influencers held different theological perspectives on the nature of God’s election and human free will. Yet, despite these differences, Sproul famously expressed deep respect for Graham, even going so far as to say that he wouldn’t see Graham in heaven—not because he doubted his salvation, but because Graham would be so close to the throne of God, while Sproul himself would be much further away.

Sproul’s statement highlights a key truth: unity doesn’t require uniformity.

We don’t have to see eye-to-eye on every issue to respect, love, and trust one another. The Christian faith is broad enough to encompass a wide range of experiences and perspectives, and we can learn from those who see things differently. This kind of diversity, when handled with humility, can be a meaningful source of growth and maturity in our own faith journey.

Stepping Outside the Lines of Our Tribes

If we’re not careful and watchful, we can sometimes fall into the trap of believing that our way—the way our specific church, zip code, or politics—is the only way. But the truth is, Jesus meets us in the lives of those who see the world differently. Whether these differences are doctrinal or cultural or economic or political, Jesus loves to surprise us by showing up in places where we least expect Him.

Take, for example, the rich diversity within the broader Christian tradition. From the liturgical beauty of the Orthodox Church to the passionate evangelism of Pentecostalism, Christianity is far from monolithic. And within this diversity, there is much to learn. As we step outside the lines of our own theological or cultural tribes to explore and learn from other expressions of faith, we move closer to Jesus.

It’s in these moments of humility and curiosity—when we allow ourselves to be influenced by perspectives different from our own—that we grow deeper in our understanding of the Kingdom of God.

Consider Jesus Himself. His ministry was defined by crossing boundaries—whether engaging with the Samaritan woman at the well, healing the daughter of a Canaanite woman, or dining with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus consistently demonstrated that love dismantles boundaries instead of erecting them.

He built bridges with people who were considered outsiders, heretics, or enemies.

He calls us to do the same today.

Loving Without Compromising

Building bridges doesn’t mean abandoning or watering down our beliefs. Jesus was clear about this. In His most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus drew a line in the sand: those who hear His words and follow them will stand firm, while those who don’t will fall.

He declared Himself as the Truth, and following Him means aligning ourselves with that Truth.

But here’s the paradox: while Jesus held firm to the truth, He consistently reached out in love to those who didn’t believe, who didn’t follow, and who didn’t understand. His love was not conditioned on agreement. He did not require people to change their minds before extending kindness, compassion, a healing touch, and friendship.

Jesus’ ministry was marked by a radical openness to people from all walks of life, even as He called them to repentance and faith.

This tension—of holding firm to truth while loving unconditionally—is one that Christians are called to live out in their daily lives. Two very unexpected, inspiring examples of this are the unlikely friendships that occurred between Christian businessman Dan Cathy and gay activist Shane Windemeyer (as told by Shane Windemeyer), and Christian pastor Jerry Falwell Senior and pornographer Larry Flynt (as told by Larry Flynt).

I encourage you to click the links and consider their stories. If friendship can happen for these unlikely pairs, it can happen for anybody.

Choosing to Build Bridges

As Christians, we are called to be people who build bridges, not burn them.

The world already has enough division, hostility, and suspicion, don’t you think?

But the Kingdom of God paves a different way. It offers a way of life that seeks to understand before seeking to be understood, that values relationship over being right, and that embraces the complexity of loving those who are different from us.

When we embrace this way of life, we begin to move outside the lines of our own tribes and toward Jesus. We grow in grace, humility, and love. And in doing so, we offer the world a glimpse of the Kingdom that is to come—a Kingdom where people of every tribe, tongue, and nation worship together in unity. A Kingdom where our differences, rather than dividing us, enrich our shared worship of the God who created us all.

At the end of the day, unity among Christians is not based on our ability to agree on every issue, but on our shared love for Jesus and His precious gospel. As we learn to embrace this unity in diversity, we reflect the heart of God to a divided world.

The question is, will we be willing to step outside our comfort zones, befriend those who see things differently, and be the bridge-builders that God has called us to be?