Unity, not Conformity

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

In an age where people are worshipped and adored because of their physical appearance and talents, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of wishing we were like someone else.  We look at our shortcomings and say “if I can only be more like him or her.”  We are not satisfied with how God created us.  That thought process has also infiltrated the church where the focus is often on how well someone preaches or how gifted they are in ministry.  We can look at another person’s gifting and say “I wish I could pray as eloquently as him” or “I wish I could sing like her.”

But, when we do that, we question God’s sovereignty.  The bible tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).  God didn’t make any mistakes when He created you and me.  He didn’t forget to endow us with certain giftings or talents.  No, He knew exactly what He was doing when He created us in our mother’s womb.  As a matter of fact, like any master builder, He had a blueprint of us before we were even conceived (Jeremiah 1:5).

God doesn’t need ten Billy Graham’s.  He needs one Billy Graham and then one of you, me and the person sitting next to us in church.  Romans 12:4-5 paints the perfect picture - “For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use.  So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].” And then to emphasize the importance of each part, God goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 12:21 – “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

What God desires is unified individuals who respect and embrace the uniquely packaged, God-given abilities that each of us possess.  That unity empowers the church to function on the earth as it was designed to.

God created you to be you!  He didn’t create you to look, talk, or act like anyone else.  Out of the billions of people on the earth, no two are exactly alike.  That’s the way God designed it.  And, by joining our unique talents, giftings, strengths, and weaknesses (yes, I said weaknesses), with a spirit of unity and commitment to one another, God is able to build something special – His spotless bride!