Tweet I would like to start out with a famous article entitled State of the Village (Original by Donella Meadows)

If the World were a village of 100 people:

The village would have 61 Asians, 13 Africans, 12 Europeans, 9 Latin Americans, and 5 from the USA and Canada
50 would be male, 50 would be female
75 would be non-white; 25 white
67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian
80 would live in substandard housing
16 would be unable to read or write
50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
33 would be without access to a safe water supply
39 would lack access to improved sanitation
24 would not have any electricity (And of the 76 that do
have electricity, most would only use it for light at night.)
8 people would have access to the Internet
1 would have a college education
1 would have HIV
2 would be near birth; 1 near death
5 would control 32% of the entire world's wealth; all 5 would be US citizens
48 would live on less than US$ 2 a day
20 would live on less than US$ 1 a day

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Today I had an interview for the position of World Languages Department Chair at an IB World School. Overall the interview went very well. I think I scored the most "points" when I shared why I like the circular model of leadership. I explained how knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and delegating their portion of the task/project in such a way that it caters to their strengths helps to make the best possible outcome. Diversity is beautiful! Whether we are reading the article above or working together to accomplish something.

Now as this relates to the body of Christ, the church, boy are we diverse! I grew up in an on-base church overseas, came to the USA and joined a Missionary Baptist, went to a Pentecostal church all through High School, did a missions project where my church home was Methodist, and then spent about 9 years in the Presbyterian Church of America (I have had life changing experiences in each setting,.. and have not agreed 100% within each setting). We've got the intellectuals, the feelers, the creative/artistic folks, the organized planners, the conceptual folks and the detailed folks. We have those that claim you must be Holy Ghost filled and those that are comfortable with the Holy Spirit in theory. My point? We are all different. The most important thing we need to have in common is the belief that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life,...that none can come to the Father (One true God) except through Him. We should have in common the belief in the divinity of Christ.

Now, on any other topic,... let's be real, some are probably right and some are wrong, and vice versa AND the mature realize that we now all see dimly and that there will be a time when we know/see fully.

So what do we do with this information? One thing we need not do is build walls and constantly  criticize one another's worship styles. We don't need to make people feel like less of a Christian for their lack of theological/doctrinal understanding. We don't need to make anyone feel like less of a Christian because they may not be in tune to how the Holy Spirit is moving during a service (or anytime for that matter.

We should realize this: 1 Corinthians12:12-26
In short, we are all members of one body. . Each of us is necessary. The hand and the foot will have different jobs and different perspectives...but those differences combine to make one incredible body. Jesus said: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”^, 

So, whether we play guitar and sing Christian Soft Rock, or make beets to biblical Hip-Hop, or play the organ and violin ^{While singing hymns. Whether we no dancing, or dance like David, Whether we do or don't lift Holy hands, or say Amen out loud,... If the essentials are their,.. don't be overly critical. Don't compare yourself to others to feel worthy. Love}

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