Let's talk about real unity...

[Tom Wetmore]

"The secret of unity is found in the equality of believers in Christ."  

 - Ellen G. White   (1 SM 259)

Edited May 24, 2015 by Tom Wetmore

[Outta Here]

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Paul

[JoeMo]

Is there a difference (religiously speaking) between unity and uniformity?  Are Catholics and Baptists as "equal" of believers in Christ as Adventists; or does this statement only pertain to the unity of SDA believers in Christ?

[Johann]

Where is the call for uniformity?

[Tom Wetmore]

Uniformity is quite the same as unison.  Imagine all the great music of the world, your favorite music.  What would it be if it could only be sung, performed in unison?  By only one instrument, or one part by one voice?

The difference to me between uniformity and unity is contrasting the above with unity as harmony in music.  Many voices, many instruments, playing/singing different notes, even at different rhythm or timing.  The music comes alive in a beauty of harmony.   A well tuned and practiced orchestra or choir singing/performing different parts becomes one in perfect unity of harmonious music.  That is unity.

[Tom Wetmore]

How is that achieved in relationships, families, communities - the Church?

Word for the day - forbearance. Let's consider its dictionary meaning - 

• patient self-control; restraint and tolerance
• the quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry
• a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due
•  Tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation; patience.

​Synonyms - tolerance, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism; leniency, clemency, indulgence; 

restraint, self-restraint, self-control

[Tom Wetmore]

The reason for the word study - 

 "Nothing can perfect a perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance."  - MR 331, p 371.

"Unity in diversity among God's children--the manifestation of love and forbearance in spite of difference of disposition--this is the testimony that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners."   - SD 286.2 

[Gerr]

A well tuned and practiced orchestra or choir singing/performing different parts becomes one in perfect unity of harmonious music.  That is unity.

But each is playing a part that supports or enhances the main theme.  What if the violins are playing Beethoven's violin concerto while the trumpets are playing the 1812 overture and the drums are doingDas Sprach Zarathustra?

[Tom Wetmore]

That is not really an apt comparison.  Where all are reading of the same music is more of a realistic comparison.  Yes, different instruments.  Yes, different notes.  The point is that what unites us is not that we are all playing a violin, or that we are all playing the melody.  It is that we are all using the same musical score under the direction of the same conductor.    It would seem that some are of the mindset that it would be perfectly fine for each section of the orchestra to have its own conductor.

[Tom Wetmore]

And this from EGW about unity where there are differences of even understand of Scripture:

“One man blunders in his interpretation of some portion of the Scripture, but shall this cause diversity and disunion? God forbid. We cannot then take a position that the unity of the church consists in viewing every text of Scripture in the very same shade of light.”