Revels without a cause

"Christians are like Revels" was the postprandial proposition up for debate. I'm not sure if we were discussing denominational diversity, or the fact that some of us make other people want to vomit. Sadly, there was a parting of ways long before the topic had been fully explored; the metaphorical significance of re-sealable pouches barely even got a mention.

By Evan-Amos (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Well, now that my dinner's gone down I've decided that Christians are not supposed to be like Revels: superficially similar but fundamentally different. In the interests of seasonality, I am going to suggest that we should be more like Mini Eggs: superficially different but fundamentally the same.

By William Warby (originally posted to Flickr as Mini Eggs) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Not "the same" in a boring, uniform, restrictive way. I am most definitely up for celebrating diversity of expression, and personality, and life experience, and tradition, and culture, and what have you [1]. But at the heart, I'd hope to see a certain shared unity of purpose and godliness which flows from the life of Christ working in us and through us, transcending our outward differences and producing radical harmony and mutual understanding (which itself becomes the best imaginable starting point for actually nurturing and enjoying diversity, without fear and without hostility...)

"...you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12b-17) 

[1] David Brent's latest contribution to the world of popular music, which can be found here, proffers profound comment on themes of diversity and equality....