POTLUCK RELIGION

The Vanity of "Unity-in-Diversity" in Religion

By Charles N. Spence. Jr.

Many today have the wrong idea about religious unity. They believe that all differences must be put aside allowing love to be the basis upon which they are in unity. This approach is clearly seen in the denominations that exist today. This approach may produce some kind of unity but it is not unity based upon truth as seen in God's word (Eph. 4:4-6). Thus, this approach to unity is unfavorable in the sight of God, as evidenced in His word.

We will look at how "Unity-in-Diversity" has failed historically in the Bible. In addition, how the concept is erroneous as applied to denominations. In conclusion, we will consider God's sentiments as drawn from His word.

In the early days of the divided kingdom, the Northern Kingdom Israel under the reign of Jeroboam introduced innovations to the worship of God. Jeroboam did not want to risk the possibility of the people turning to Rehoboam again. The people had been going up to Jerusalem, according to the law, to keep the feasts of the Lord. So to prevent the people from having a change of heart, Jeroboam established his own religion for them. Notice what takes place in 1 Kings 12:25-33:

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, now the kingdom may return to the house of David: if these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah. Therefore the king took counsel and made two calves of gold, and said to the people, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, 0 Israel which brought you up from the land of Egypt! And he set up one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi. Jeroboam ordained a feast on the tenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made. So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense.

From that point on, there was a unique difference between the two divisions religiously. Judah was more faithful to God, though not much. They did not use the kind of innovations that Israel used at the time of the presumptuousness of Jeroboam. God had shown his displeasure in the defiance of Jeroboam by bringing judgment upon him (l Kings 14:1-20). Yet not long after that, Judah under Rehoboam began to allow some of those innovations to creep in (1 Kings 14:21-24). Rehoboam was also judged.

After a series of kings in both the north and south, Ahab became king in Israel. Jehoshaphat became king in Judah. Israel under Ahab had not departed from the ways of Jeroboam while Judah under Jehoshaphat was trying to get back to the will of God. Despite Jehoshaphat's convictions, he still made peace with Ahab. Notice 1 Kings 22:43-44:

And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the King of Israel.

Jehoshaphat had too much respect for a man as malignant as Ahab. In one instance Ahab plotted to use Jehoshaphat as a decoy to the Syrians (1 Kings 22:30). This strategy came after Jehoshaphat agreed to an alliance or "Unity-in-Diversity" with Ahab. “So he said to Jehoshaphat, ‘Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?’ And Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel ‘I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses'” (1 Kings 22:4). This truly was not the case. Jehoshaphat was not the maligned individual that Ahab was and Judah was not as wicked as Israel. Yet complacency to evil doers as well as false teachings results in a fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). When Jehoshaphat insists on getting Gods thoughts on the matter, Ahab reluctantly agrees. The Prophet Micaiah, after being pressed by Ahab for a true answer, tells what would be the outcome. Despite God's word and warning, Ahab goes into battle, but not without any bitter resentment toward the prophet of God. As if to alter the course of events that God has declared would come to pass, Ahab has Micaiah locked up to guarantee his safe return. (l Kings 22:13-28)

Within the Unity-in-Diversity camp, there is a blatant disregard for the truthfulness of God's word. As Ahab dismissed God's word by having the prophet imprisoned, so do men today, by locking out God's word. They allow themselves to be filled with and governed by there own selfish interests. Yet, despite the apparent diversities, men will espouse themselves to such groups by tolerating the differences. Jehoshaphat knew what the Lord had said. Jehoshaphat was the one who inquired of God's sentiments. Yet, he went along. Jehoshaphat had to learn a hard lesson: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (l Cor. 15:33)

As diverse as the Pharisees were from the Sadducees, they still found a basis for unity: Jesus must die! Again, we see the tendency of disregarding God's word. Jesus is the word. They did not see the truth of God by having aligned themselves against the truth. The word is truth (John 17:17).

Because I was once a part of the Methodist Church, I was able to see first hand the fallacy of such a movement. Within the congregation, where I preached there was not agreement. Yet, the people were supposedly in fellowship. People were left to believe what they wished about certain doctrinal issues. What one believed doctrinally was not important as long as one believed that Jesus is Christ and Lord. Throughout the Methodist conference there was lack of agreement. Such was a result of the loose interpretations of the Bible and the prominence of the Discipline. In some congregations, the Discipline was king. In others, many never even saw the Discipline. I had used occasions to question the use of the Discipline to govern the lives of the people because I believed God's word was sufficient. Of course, nothing came of it. Again, God's word was pushed aside.

Any time people will ignore diversities for the sake of unity GOD'S WORD IS COMPROMISED. As a Methodist, I was a part of the "Inter-denominational Ministerial Alliance of Passaic & Vicinity." Here, ministers from various communities and faiths came together in a united effort for the betterment of the communities around them. Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, and even “non-denominational” preachers came together in what they believed to be fellowship. Their motto was "Let's agree to disagree" for the sake of unity. However, Jesus prayed, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and me in You (John 17:21). Jesus and the Father did not have Unity-in-Diversity. As for the as one brother pointed out to me while we were discussing this issue, "It is like one big religious smorgasbord. I will have faith only and give me sprinkling. No you can have sprinkling; give me immersion, not for salvation, and I'll take a little faith only. I'll have a big portion of dispensationalism with speaking in tongues. Hold back the speaking in tongues just give me the Pope."

God is not pleased with, nor does he ever tolerate Unity-in-diversity in matters of faith. We may tolerate it as did the church in Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17). Yet, keep in mind; the church in Pergamos was told to repent, or else. Unity is based upon the truth of God's word. Maybe if Jehoshaphat was not so tolerant the people might have removed the high places. If everyone did God's will and not their own, there would be unity. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). People have long since compromised the truth of God's word for peace and love. Jesus said that in Him is peace (John 16:33). Jesus said that those who keep his commands will abide in his love (John 15:10). (Read also John 14:23, 24, 27)

The Bible makes Christians only and only Christians. To enjoy harmonious fellowship without ever compromising the truth, people must see God's word through the eyes and heart of Jesus (read John 8:26-32). As Jesus was one with the father, so the true believers must be today.