unanimity
Where else in the secular world do you see the successful living out of Christian ideals? What can the Church learn from what you noticed?
Psalm 133:1
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Let’s get something clear: unity is not the same as unanimity. Meaning being One together doesn’t require everyone share the same values, ideas, opinions, or beliefs. In fact, unity usually requires the opposite.
This is a key concept in anarchist collectives and in consensus-run cooperatives: that diversity and dissent don’t cause non-belonging. They are part of what keeps us alive as One. These secular spaces get it.
Meanwhile the Church - as an overall institution and within its denominational segments - can’t seem to grasp that concept. It fights with itself over and over again to police who belongs - who is allowed to stay in the unity and who is a schismatic wasting away outside the boundaries it sets for God’s blessings.
Where else in the secular world do you see the successful living out of Christian ideals? What can the Church learn from what you noticed?
Mutual insurance, credit unions, and non-profits avoid profit motive driving hierarchy, so generally try to treat everyone equally. Yet, our apathy to get involved, plus efficiency in decision making, pushes back toward more centralized control and away from the humble equality needed to share power.
Churches could learn more from Quaker spiritual unity, which seems slow due to patient listening to different views, yet more quickly allows comprehensive understanding of issues, so common ground solutions can be found despite differences. Quakers proved consensus works faster long-term by reunifying over slavery BEFORE the Civil War. Yet, even US Quakers have a tendency to use hierarchy in the form of one moderator and other leadership positions. Sharing power equally is not easy, but it is critical to minimizing divisions preventing sustainable peace.