Ever heard of the phrase "Unity in Diversity"?
It is popular in progressive and ecumenical circles today in & out of our Church.
Yet this wicked phrase is NOTHING NEW [....and there is no new thing under the sun. Eccl.1:9] as one of our Church pioneers [Joseph Waggoner 1820-1889] shows from more than a century and a half ago.
"Christian union has always been considered desirable; but lately, seeing that confusion and diversity are increasing, and knowing of no means whereby to correct the evil, the churches have resigned themselves to the apparent necessities of the case, and, to solace themselves, have devised what they call “unity in diversity.”
---But we are sure no such unity as that was ever learned from the word of God.
The gospel inculcates union and has made provision to effect it.
The apostle, concerning the benefits and privileges conferred on the church by Christ, wrote as follows:—“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.....
And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:8-13.
*Having among them such a diversity of faith, they deny the New Testament doctrine of unity, and urge that it is impossible for all to see and believe alike.
--We do not learn what is truth or what is duty by the position or practice of professed Christians at any specified time,
--but by the teachings of the divine word; and the position and practice of all are to be judged by the word.
--Every excuse or reason offered to justify the present state of discord, or any diversity of faith and judgment among Christians, is founded in selfishness, and is an evidence of carnality according to the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 3:3:—“For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
Or, “walk according to man,” as the margin reads; according to carnal, selfish feelings, and not according to the teachings and spirit of Christ.The scene of confusion he there pictures has its exact counterpart in the present.
It is to be noticed also that all the gifts were given with the same end in view, and for the same length of time. If they were withdrawn there are now in the church no evangelists, pastors, nor teachers, for these are among the gifts of the Spirit." Joseph Waggoner