When you share the Gospel with unbelievers, they like to throw up the diversity of Christian expression as something to discredit the claims of Jesus. “What’s up with all the Protestant denominations?” they ask. “Why can’t Christians agree on what the Scriptures say? Doesn’t that indicate you don’t have a unified message?”

The expectation behind these statements is that all Christians will share identical beliefs, lifestyles, and worship practices. Islam is a good example of a faith system that looks nearly identical from one culture to another. They have prescribed dress codes and religious practices, regimented prayer times, and food restrictions that must be observed by every Muslim. In this kind of authoritarian system, diversity isn’t tolerated.

We see this same uniformity in other groups too—all cults, some corporations, even some exclusive clubs. They insist on a prescribed style of appearance and behavior because, in the end, it’s all about polishing their image and expanding their influence. Individuals who make up their group are expendable. If they don’t conform to the standards, they’re shown the door.

Thankfully, this is not how God designed His kingdom to operate! The Good Shepherd cares about every member of His flock and goes out to look for the one who goes astray. Although Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, sent to redeem and reconcile Israelites back to their God, He also knew that His church would include people from all nations, languages, cultures, and ways of life. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” He tells His disciples in John 10:16.

The Father never intended for His people to be clones, robots, or cookie-cutter versions of some ideal set up by men. We’re free to reflect God’s glory according to the unique spiritual gifts, talents, passions, and calling we’ve received from Him. We’re expected to grow and mature over time, which means we’ll change our minds, refine our opinions, and enlarge our spiritual understanding as we learn from our mistakes and submit to His ways. Our main goal as a disciple of Jesus should be to “find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph. 5:10).

Knowing that no individual or denominational group has fully grasped all that’s involved in pleasing the Lord should curb our tendency to judge other Christians who disagree with us, look different from us, or worship the Lord in ways we can’t identify with. I love how the apostle Paul spelled this out for us in Romans 12:3-5. “By the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

True discipleship is a work in progress. The Lord wants us to use the tools we’ve been given to keep growing in our faith—reading and studying Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply its wisdom, heeding our own conscience, and seeking counsel from godly friends, teachers, and leaders we respect and trust.  

Despite our diversity in style, calling, and opinions on minor doctrinal issues, true Christians are united on what matters most. We agree on who Jesus is and what He accomplished through His death and resurrection. We know He is the only way to be reconciled to God. We trust in His atoning sacrifice on our behalf that’s freed us from the law of sin and death. We know He is Lord of all and will one day return to earth to set up His kingdom, inviting us to rule and reign with Him throughout eternity. All these cardinal doctrines are held by Christians around the world, regardless of differences in culture, upbringing, or status in society. We’ve all repented of our sins, trusted Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, and have been born again through the power of the Spirit. As a result, we’re now “able ministers of a new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:6).    

In the early church, Judaizers were pressuring Gentile converts to adhere to Old Covenant laws because that’s how they thought walking with God should look like. Uncomfortable with the differences in their cultures, they tried to shape the Gentiles into their image of godliness. But Paul strongly opposed them, warning the Galatian believers to not relinquish their place in Christ’s body. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Adhering to Jewish laws governing ritual purity, animal sacrifice, and temple maintenance were no longer necessary in the New Covenant because of Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice. But, of course, Christians are still expected to keep the moral laws that cover how we treat others and relate to God. Jesus summarized them for us: “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

As we celebrate the freedom of our nations (in the U.S. and Canada) this month, let’s remember our freedom in Christ and rejoice in our unified diversity. The world won’t understand us, but that’s okay. We aren’t living to please them. Our eyes are on the Lord!

 Thank you, Father, for your beautiful plan of redemption that embraces all cultures of the world. Help us to preserve our unity amid our diversity, and most of us, let us endeavor to glorify you in everything we say and do. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen.