There is no unity without distinct identities. How can someone be united with themselves? God intended the Church to be different people from different backgrounds and upbringings with different gifts. He knew this and expected the Church not only to succeed but to excel under this organization.
In 1st Corinthians Paul goes on at length about the different members and how each has their own purpose defined by God!
1 Corinthians 4 - 27
v.4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
v.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
v. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
v. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
v. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
v. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
v. 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
v. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
v. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
v. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
v.26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
v. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
So we see, God knew of our differences and even planned that the Church would be strong because of it, as long as we are UNITED in the Holy Ghost to the uplifting of Jesus Christ and the spread of the Gospel Message.
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