E pluribus unum – Latin for "Out of many, one" – is a traditional motto of the United States. But it was the American roots of Christianity that gave way to such united diversity in the body of Christ.
John 17:20-23 New International Version: Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We are united as believers in Christ who split the veil both physically and spiritually for all who believe. This united us with God or redeemed us to be one in relationship to God.
Romans 2:11 New International Version
11 For God does not show favoritism.
God does not show favoritism no matter the gender, race, age, class, or country.
Romans 12:5 New International Version
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
In Christ, we form one body. A body has many functions but all work in unity to perform the needs of the body.
Galatians 3:28 New International Version
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Again for all are one in Christ Jesus!
John 3:16 New International Version
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God invites all who will believe in Jesus to freely receive salvation.
Romans 3:23 New International Version
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We are also equally united in our sinful nature and our need for salvation. United diversity will force a checks and balances type of system as different environmental perspectives will question if for example, the foot of the body stops taking signals from the brain. It will cause an immediate response to save the foot.
If one group of believers in the rural area are truthfully teaching the Word of God while a group of believers in the city start to move away but still claim to be Christian, then due to a different environment the rural believers can help bring the others back to a Biblical worldview. Different groups can help preserve the Word of God.
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Back to Jesus’s prayer, to seek unity we must seek Jesus and follow Jesus. When speaking of church unity, I feel I must clarify this isn’t a call to unify with an unbiblical worldview but only on the foundation that Paul laid out with the cornerstone being Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 New International Version
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Each one of us should build with care not to weaken or destroy the foundation laid by Jesus, the Apostles, and close disciples. The foundation laid can not be customized. We must strive to build with valuable insight and wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 New International Version
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
Build with stones of gold vs walls of straw. What are walls of straw? Let us study 1 Cor 1:11-13 and Colossians 2:6-10.
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 New International Version
11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Colossians 2:6-10 New International Version
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Notice in Colossians 2:6 Paul calls us to continue to live our lives in Him AND be rooted/built up in Him while strengthening our faith. Walls of straw will put a hindrance on building and strengthening the body.
Fighting within the church over topics unrelated to the foundation of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:11-13) Giving way to hollow and deceptive philosophies like poor theology, unbiblical traditions, and the sins of division like pride, jealousy, or unrighteous anger. (Colossians 2:8)
Paul also mentions how violating one’s conscience and creating a stumbling block due to disputable matters should be avoided. Romans 14 should be read entirely as the whole chapter speaks on this matter.
Romans 14:19 New International Version
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Jesus Christ fully human and fully divine is the head of the body, church, every power, and every authority. It is in Christ we are complete. It is in Christ we are united. It is in Christ where diversity is welcomed. Let us make every effort that leads to peace and edification while simultaneously keeping Christ as the head of the church.
John 17:20-23 New International Version: Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We are united as believers in Christ who split the veil both physically and spiritually for all who believe. This united us with God or redeemed us to be one in relationship to God.
Romans 2:11 New International Version
11 For God does not show favoritism.
God does not show favoritism no matter the gender, race, age, class, or country.
Romans 12:5 New International Version
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
In Christ, we form one body. A body has many functions but all work in unity to perform the needs of the body.
Galatians 3:28 New International Version
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Again for all are one in Christ Jesus!
John 3:16 New International Version
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God invites all who will believe in Jesus to freely receive salvation.
Romans 3:23 New International Version
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We are also equally united in our sinful nature and our need for salvation. United diversity will force a checks and balances type of system as different environmental perspectives will question if for example, the foot of the body stops taking signals from the brain. It will cause an immediate response to save the foot.
If one group of believers in the rural area are truthfully teaching the Word of God while a group of believers in the city start to move away but still claim to be Christian, then due to a different environment the rural believers can help bring the others back to a Biblical worldview. Different groups can help preserve the Word of God.
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Back to Jesus’s prayer, to seek unity we must seek Jesus and follow Jesus. When speaking of church unity, I feel I must clarify this isn’t a call to unify with an unbiblical worldview but only on the foundation that Paul laid out with the cornerstone being Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 New International Version
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Each one of us should build with care not to weaken or destroy the foundation laid by Jesus, the Apostles, and close disciples. The foundation laid can not be customized. We must strive to build with valuable insight and wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 New International Version
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
Build with stones of gold vs walls of straw. What are walls of straw? Let us study 1 Cor 1:11-13 and Colossians 2:6-10.
1 Corinthians 1:11-13 New International Version
11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Colossians 2:6-10 New International Version
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Notice in Colossians 2:6 Paul calls us to continue to live our lives in Him AND be rooted/built up in Him while strengthening our faith. Walls of straw will put a hindrance on building and strengthening the body.
Fighting within the church over topics unrelated to the foundation of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:11-13) Giving way to hollow and deceptive philosophies like poor theology, unbiblical traditions, and the sins of division like pride, jealousy, or unrighteous anger. (Colossians 2:8)
Paul also mentions how violating one’s conscience and creating a stumbling block due to disputable matters should be avoided. Romans 14 should be read entirely as the whole chapter speaks on this matter.
Romans 14:19 New International Version
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Jesus Christ fully human and fully divine is the head of the body, church, every power, and every authority. It is in Christ we are complete. It is in Christ we are united. It is in Christ where diversity is welcomed. Let us make every effort that leads to peace and edification while simultaneously keeping Christ as the head of the church.
