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Scripture
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3.28 (NKJV)
Comments
The miracle of unity in diversity evolved in my office one day. I was in my final year at the conservative Baptist college, leaving due to my "liberal" beliefs--liberal as defined by the ultra-conservatives.
I had invited two men to my office. Larry was a fellow-professor. He was a fundamentalist and belonged to an ultra-conservative pentecostal church. Larry practiced healing, speaking in tongues, and other charismatic gifts. He held to the inerrancy of the Bible. Larry had strong religious convictions, but he was kind and tolerant toward those differing with him. Stacy was a fundamentalist and ministry student. He was a large young man with rosy cheeks, a black mustache, and blue overalls. He was raised in the Tennessee mountains and spoke with a mountain accent. Stacy was a trail-of-blood Baptist, believing the only true church is the Baptist one. He was proud to argue Baptists have John the Baptist as their founder. He was excited by mention of Jesus' blood and showed it by a hearty amen. He claimed the King James Version is the only perfect Word of God. He, too, spoke in tongues but stayed a Baptist. This was an odd concoction meeting for a purpose other than to argue: a Baptist "esteemed-liberal," a tongue-speaking Assemblies of God fundamentalist, and a fundamentalist, King James Version-only, tongues-speaking, Baptist-only mountain preacher.
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The paradox of what was happening is best framed by what we did after dialogue. We decided to pray. I led with a soft and quiet prayer. Stacy prayed second and poured out his heart in loud pleading. He could have probably been heard all over the complex. Larry prayed last and was not quiet but not near as loudly animated as Stacy. Our prayers reflected beautifully and faithfully our different personalities. We said goodbye and never met together again, even though I did meet with each one on different occasions.
After our prayer it dawned upon me what a miracle had happened. I will never forget that holy experience. Recalling the prayer together brings warmth and hope to my heart. There in a small office was a microcosm of the cosmic harmony God has willed for Nature.
It seems to me the same unity happens at the celebration of Holy Communion. In the mystical partaking together, the Church symbolizes the oneness of all peoples and other creatures. At the Lord's Table is Grace, all-inclusive Love; here a strange mix of sinners blend together to share redemptive mercy and lively hope.
This meeting at the Christ Table is for a spiritual family, and our togetherness mirrors cosmic salvation. In the meal congregants, as one, image God's unrest with disunity among peoples and persons. God and Church say "No!" to all divisions in the Church and outside it. Eating and drinking together from Creation--bread, new wine--reminds the world unity is a gift of Unifying Grace.
This Unity cannot be legislated, only received in Love. Unity is not a matter of manipulative technology, but Divine Gift. Our Creator waits for our willingness to transcend our differences and live from our One Center.
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