One of the metaphors the Apostle Paul chose to express the oneness Christians together was that of a body, a body with many parts. This is what we are like, he said, many unique parts with different functions all comprising the same unified body. No one part of the body may exclude the other and say "I have no need of you." (I Cor 12)

In an ideal world, one ruled by the Spirit, this is how it should work; our diversity is woven into our unity and vice versa. That is different than uniformity which is togetherness vis-à-vis sameness. But Paul cautions us about uniformity: If everyone was an ear, where would be the seeing? Unity is different than uniformity. Unity is based not in sameness but rather in the participation of all the members of the body in the one Christ, head of the body. That is the source of unity. Christ has made us his own; we belong to him.

Among early Disciples a motto by Meldenius shaped much of the movement. It was:

"In essentials, unity;

In non-essentials, liberty;

In all things, love."

There are the things that unite - the centermost things - and they allow for freedom around the less than central things. But the way that we are with each other is best shaped by love.

It is a good motto for a movement like the Disciples, a gathering of those who call upon Christ and then humbly work out the details of our life and work together. I like it. Especially the love part.