Unity = Diversity | 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Hi everyone! So, it comes to my attention that I am absolutely horrible about finding time to fit this into my life. It's been like 10 months since I actually last posted...sorry guys. I've got to come up with a post schedule, which I say every summer :)

Today I want to talk about something that I believe we as a people have lost sight of--the beauty of diversity, and our call to find unity within it as the Body of Christ.

Diversity. Unity. Essentially opposites, right? Diversity is being different, while unity is being united together. Usually people with differences don't choose to come together. But, as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 12, these two things are to go hand in hand.

If you've grown up in church, or at least attended a few services, you've most likely heard about the Corinthians and Paul. The Corinthian church, in Corinth, was a jacked up church. They had all the problems, y'all. Economic discrimination, sexual immorality, disrespecting the Lord's Supper, idolatry. You name it, the Corinthian church was most likely involved in it. But, Paul still chose to help them. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses all of these issues and more. In chapter 12, Paul talks about spiritual gifts.

#1 What is the Body of Christ?

The Body of Christ refers to all believers together. If you're a Christian, you're part of the Body of Christ!

#2 What are Spiritual Gifts?

Spiritual gifts are what is given uniquely to us by God through the Holy Spirit that helps with the function of the church. In Bible times, some were prophecy (declaring messages from God), the ability to perform miracles, and the ability to speak in tongues (unlearned languages). However, many of the gifts given during the New Testament are no longer gifts given to us, as these were necessary for the foundation of the church, but aren't really needed anymore.

Paul lists certain gifts in this chapter in verses 8-10 and in verse 28. My rad Dad made this table of other places in the Bible spiritual gifts are mentioned. Go read it, it's cool :)

#3 How on earth does this relate to what I opened with?

If you want to read on your own before we dive in, click the link above: "1 Corinthians 12". So, look at verse 4. Paul starts off here by saying how the Godhead (God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) are all involved in spiritual gifts. I think this part is really cool. Paul says this:

--> 1) we all have different GIFTS, but we are given them by the same SPIRIT.

--> 2) we serve in different MINISTRIES, but we do it for the same LORD, JESUS.

--> 3) we participate in different ACTIVITIES, but the same GOD empowers us to do so.

Basically, what Paul is saying is this: God gifts us in very different ways, but we do it for the same purpose and the same God--to glorify Jesus in the use of our gifts. There is diversity in our gifts, but our purpose is unified in Christ.

Paul talks about this concept more throughout the chapter, but because we all have very short attention spans, I'll leave it at that :)

So remember y'all, diversity is a good thing. And it is essential in the Body of Christ. From the gifts we have to our nationalities, God loves all of us, and without different parts of the body, the body couldn't survive. Love differences, don't hate them.

Thanks for reading guys! I'll see ya soon, I promise :)