Diversity and Unity: Don't pick your next church without it.

A little boy was afraid of the dark. One night his mother told him to go out to the back porch and bring her the broom. The little boy turned to his mother and said, "Mama, I don't want to go out there. It's dark." The mother smiled reassuringly at him. "You don't have to be afraid of the dark," she explained. "God is out there. He's got you. " The little boy looked at his mother real hard and asked, "Are you sure he's out there?"

"Yes, I'm sure. He is everywhere, and he is always ready to help you when you need him," she said. The little boy thought about that for a minute and then went to the back door and cracked it a little. Peering out into the darkness, he called, "God, if you're out there, would you please hand me the broom?

In two weeks, church as you know it will be no more. Many churches are closing since the pandemic. Finding a new home after sixty-seven years can be a pretty scary, dark place. Where do you go from here when church is over? The answer is…church. Hebrews says don’t forsake the assembling as some are apt to do. But what church? The answer is: a God-designed church—the Body of Christ.

Why the God designed church—the Body of Christ—is the best next place to be?

We see the God-designed church in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12: It is designed like a body. The body is the perfect picture—a metaphor—to describe God’s design for the place for his imperfect people.

First, the God-designed church is designed for diversity. Second, the God-designed church is designed for unity. Diversity and unity—it seems too simple but it works, especially when times are darkest. The God-designed church—the Body of Christ—it’s the perfect place for God’s “not-so-perfect” people because it is God’s “I got you” place.

First, the God-designed church is designed for diversity. Every member is in a position to say "I got you" because every member has something to give. (1 Cor. 12:15-20). Paul used the picture of the body to stress that diversity is important because every member is different, yet has something to contribute for the common good, less the church becomes exclusive and imbalanced rather than inclusive and balanced.

17If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? I Cor.12:17-19

Where would the body be if we are all the same? It would be a “Mr. Potato Head Church”—a toy with movable parts. And if you choose, one part. You can design the potato any way you like, based on preferences rather than purpose. It may not be the best potato or church for you. Put your imagination to work, and consider:

What if the “Mr. Potato Head Church” was all mouth, what kind of church would it be—The Mouth Church—all talk, no walk. Romans 12:6-8 calls the church to be a diverse manifestation of the Spirit with seven motivational gifts that make up the complete believer. One of those gifts is leadership: the genuine commitment to walk even in the face of opposition like Moses who faces the Pharaoh of our fears “to let God's people go”.

What if the “Mr. Potato Head Church” was all eyes, the Eye church would be full of insight but with no service. They can see what needs to be done, but there are no willing hands to “get er done.” Service is one of the diverse Romans 12 motivational gifts. Who will be the hands of the body to get things done?

What if the “Mr. Potato Head Church” was all feet, the Foot Church would be full of missions, but no message. They go, go, go, but there’s no teaching, no know, know, know. Teaching is one of the diverse motivational gifts of Romans 12. The Matthew 29 great commission calls for the church to not just to “go ye therefore”, “but to go ye therefore and teach.”

Church, as you look for your next church, look for a church designed with diversity in mind like the God-designed Body of Christ. That Body is a diverse body that is comprised of seven categories of gifts that serve the body listed in Roman 12:6-8:

6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Ro. 126-8

With this kind of gifted community, there will be someone equipped to meet whatever needs you may have in your dark hour. God has got you:

• When you need to know TSTL—"thus saith the Lord”, there is someone who has the gift of prophecy.

• When you need a helping hand from God, there is there is someone who has gift of the service.

• When you need a word from God, there is there is someone who has the gift teaching.

• When you need encouragement, there is someone who the gift of exhortation like Barnabas.

• When you need physical support, there is someone who the gift giving like Lydia.

• When you need direction, there is someone who leadership Peter.

• When you need a kind hand, there is someone who has the gift of mercy like Darcus.

Church, as you consider the best next place to go, as your church as you know it ends, the answer is church, but not just any church. Seek a God-designed church—the Body of Christ—designed for diversity. Whatever you need, God’s has you.

Second, the God-designed church is designed for unity. Every member works as one to say "We got each other.” Paul used the picture of the body to stress that unity is important because all members, big and small, are united by one spirit of mutual concern.

On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. I Cor. 12:22-26

With unity, everybody is important, every body’s gift is needed, no matter how small. In keeping with the body as an example of the church, consider the stapedius. It is smallest muscle in the body, the size of the width of a penny. It connects the ear drum to the brain. Without it, we can't hear. So, as it is with the ear, so it is with Church. Without the smallest, seemingly insignificant members, we can’t hear the least among us. When we follow God’s design of His church, all the needs of the community of humanity are served with mutual concerns. I hear you and you hear me.

1. The God-designed, unity-driven, mutual concerned church hears the cry of the mother who has walked a thousand miles of jungle and desert to give her child a chance for a better life like you ‘d want for your child.

2. The God-designed, unity-driven, mutual concerned church hears the cry of students who are tired of gun shots in school and elected offices firing off another round of “thoughts and prayers.

3. The God-designed, unity-driven, mutual concerned church hears the cry of trans kids who want what all kids want—affirmation and good health.

Seek a God-designed, unity-driven churched as a next church that supports ministries that hear the least like Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries of Los Fresnos, Texas led by Rev. Filiberto Pereira. They provide food, clothing, shelter for the least seeking a better life. He knows what it means to be the least. He escaped the harsh regime of Fidel Castro’s Cuba, spending four years in jail. He sought refuge and found it in a God-designed, unity driven church who heard him. He went on to start a ministry that does the same.

Church, as you seek your next church, look for a God-designed church designed for unity. Every member—no matter how small—works as one to say "We got each other” especially when times are darkest. They hear and honor each other, together.

CONCLUSION:

Why the God designed church—the Body of Christ—is the best next place to be? First, the God-designed church is designed for diversity. Every member is in a position to say "I got you" because every member has something to give. Second, the God-designed church is designed for unity. Every member works as one to say "We got each other” because we have mutual concern.

In two weeks, church as you know it—will be no more. Many churches have closed since the pandemic. Finding a new home after sixty-seven years can be a pretty scary, a dark place. Where do you go from here when church is over? Go to church; but what church? The answer is: a God-designed church. It’s time to get off the porch, but don’t fear the dark, the unknown. Jesus, the Head of the Church—is out there. He’s got the broom to sweep away the darkness. He’s got you.