Conformity is repugnant to a strong individualist. What kind of an adjustment can be expected if such a person is a Christian? Over and over again, the Bible exhorts us to be of one mind: “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Phil. 2:2); “… stand fast in one spirit, with one mind” (Phil. 1:27); “be of the same mind one toward another” (Rom. 12:16); “… keep those whom thou has given me, that they may be one” (John 17:11). Can it be that God, who made each person unique, who knows the very number of hairs on each head, suddenly demands that each of these masterpieces lose his freedom to be “other-minded” when he comes to have faith in Christ? Does this prescribed oneness mean that my desire to remain “me” conflicts with the life that Christ gives?
A quick “yes” to this question betrays a failure to understand the new kind of freedom that Christ gives when he gives new life. There is a definite distinction in Scripture between the life that I lose in Christ and the life that I lead in Christ. The life I lose is my ego, my will, my desire to satisfy myself and make myself the master of my soul (Rom. 12:1). In the life I henceforth lead I strive to be myself in total dependence on the living Christ to renew my mind (Rom. 12:2) and eventually to take me where he is (John 14:2, 3).
This transformation of mind is accomplished solely by the indwelling Spirit of God (Rom. 8:5–8), whose presence is made possible only by the death and resurrection of Christ (John 16:7). The Apostle Paul describes this sequence of death and life as we experience it here on earth: “I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, Living Bible).
This new life, then, no longer seeks to satisfy the self, which is crucified, but is spiritually inclined to seek after the things of the Spirit. We get a clear indication from the following verse that the Holy Spirit is free—as gloriously free as the wind—and moves in ways man cannot predict: “The wind bloweth where it willeth, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell from where it cometh, and where it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). We also know from Scripture that the spirit glorifies none other but the Son, who made the new life possible (John 16:13, 14). We know, too, that the Spirit never violates the Law of Christ, which is love (Gal. 5:14).
All Christians must conform to these basic concepts of losing an old life and leading a new one in Christ, but this presents no problem even to the strong-willed. The grace of God that he freely receives when the Holy Spirit breathes new life into him makes him willing and able to believe these concepts with all his heart.
But within this framework of principle, which is unalterable truth, vast areas of differences exist—and rightly so, as I understand the revelation of the Church, the Body of Christ. This Mystical Body with Christ as the head is made analogous to the functioning of a physical body (1 Cor. 12). Each minute part has a God-given nature that contributes to the health of the body as long as it functions according to that nature. Although I lose my old identity when I become a member of Christ’s body, my new life demands a new me with a new function. Perhaps I will be a preacher, a teacher, a helper, or any one of the numerous workers mentioned in the Bible who will build up the Church and bind it together. A part of a totality, I become more of an individual than ever before because the totality depends upon me to function according to my God-given nature. Driven by God’s love for unity, I personally and continually will to respond to the control center—the head, Christ—in order to discover and perform the unique function of his will.
As each part is faithful to follow the Spirit in this way, the original masterpieces of human individuality begin to emerge to form that total and complete unity which is God’s perfect plan. Even though the parts are all different, all are of one mind, for each draws from the one mind of Christ. This kind of oneness does not demand conformity.
This diversity of function is readily acceptable in the Church because it can be understood in these terms. But what happens when the diversity is one of behavior and life-style instead? Church members who believe in the Spirit’s freedom to produce diverse functions in the Body may suddenly insist that oneness of mind means conformity in conduct. They are reluctant to accept a nonconformist.
Many areas of our lives are not prescribed in detail in the Bible but are established within the principle of liberty instead. Not fully understanding this liberty and lacking the courage to walk by faith, we develop an insecurity that causes a serious problem in our attitude toward others.
Take, for example, the common reaction against the life-style of the Jesus people. Without getting involved in a controversy over the validity of their conversions (there are wolves in sheep’s clothing in every move-fent and church organization where the Spirit breathes new life), let us look at Scripture to establish our attitudes on such points as long hair, mod clothes, rock music, and arm-raising. Keep in mind that we are still talking about true believers who are born again according to the Word of God and whose doctrine is within that framework of unalterable truth.
Consider this verse, which sets the stage for numerous differences in our attitudes and activities: “All things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor. 6:12). The paraphrase from the Living Bible reads this way: “I can do anythink I want to if Christ has not said no, but some things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to.” Since people vary in the kinds and strengths of their temptations, what holds power over one person may have little effect on another.
For example, one new Christian just emerging from the unsavory depths of a rock culture may find it impossible to praise the Lord in gospel rock music. He realizes that anything resembling his old life still holds power over him, so on the basis of First Corinthians 6:12 he wisely chooses not to engage in any remembrance of it. On the other hand, another new Christian from the same culture may be powerfully used by the Lord in the very environment out of which he came. When the bonds from his old life are broken and hold no power over him, he is free to participate in many of the old activities for the sake of winning others to Christ. This participation, which may include wearing long hair and mod clothes, and listening to and playing rock music, is based on First Corinthians 9:22, which says: “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him” (Living Bible). (For a fuller understanding of this concept of liberty, read Romans 14:1–23; 15:1–7; and First Corinthians 8:6–13.)
Is it possible, then, that this nonconforming liberty can also reflect a oneness of mind among believers? Yes, it can! When we are convinced by the Word that vast differences rightly exist within the Church even in areas of behavior and life-style, then we are free to accept the other Body members who differ from us, trusting them to follow the Lord as he directs and depending upon them to help keep the Body healthy. Each believer should seek the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit rather than adhering to rigid rules that disregard his individuality and his uniqueness in Christ. When a believer is free in the Spirit himself, he is able to believe in his brother’s freedom; and since there is but one Spirit, there is one mind between them, however different they appear to be!
Of course, our response to the Spirit and our decisions will inevitably change as we “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). I believe that as we grow—as we experience more of the Spirit’s release from bondage to worldly pleasure—we become freer to choose our involvements from a broader scope of activities that put us in contact with those whom Christ is calling. The activities themselves lose their power to control us as we become more filled with the Spirit. Through this process we reflect a more accurate image of our Lord, for when we choose not to get involved for the sake of a weaker brother, we are acting in true humility. Humility and submission toward another is possible only from a position of great strength if it is to be an operation of God’s redeeming love and not cowardice in disguise.
This is the kind of strength and love we are witnessing in many daring Christian experiments today. Beautiful conversions and deeper commitments to the Living Christ, founded on the great fundamental truths of Christianity, are emerging from all sorts of non-traditional atmospheres today, and we need to be open to these in the spirit of freedom. Among the ministries bearing fruit are community-living groups, home church groups, coffeehouses, city street workers (many of these are giving way to city communities), publications that engage in direct confrontations on controversial matters, and gatherings where believers praise the Lord with open arms.
Take Will Campbell, for example, who once had wide experiences within the organized church. He has since chosen to function as a Body member from the outside, and in an interview he described his understanding of Christian freedom:
If God be God, He can work anywhere He wants to, including the mahogany pews, the red carpets, the stained glass and all the rest. I’m not trying to limit God, all I know is He’s not calling me under the steeple. I can’t say that for anybody else [“Will Campbell: Door Interview,” The Wittenburg Door, June-July, 1974, p. 12].
The Wittenburg Door is another example of Christian freedom brought about by strength. Here is a magazine so firmly determined to stand for solid biblical beliefs that it has chosen to be vulnerable to the legalism of the churches by exposing controversial issues. According to its editor, Denny Rydberg, one of its chief concerns is that Christians be challenged to reexamine their “sacred cows” and traditions that are not based on Scripture and to recognize the need for change within the Church. This challenge is being accepted by those whose integrity is frustrated by the hypocrisy in much of what is termed “Christian” living.
In 1942, Clarence Jordon broke off from tradition when he established the inter-racial Christian community of Koinonia Farm in the southern part of Georgia. Even such a scriptural practice as the common treasury subjected them to accusations of Communism!
What causes these reactions? Are these “radicals,” “liberals,” or “rebels” really wrong, or is it that we do not understand what they are trying to do? I am afraid that fear of apostasy is what has caused many a brother to deny a brother! People seem to find it easier to stagnate in that fear, defending their own positions, than to try to grow in wisdom, discernment, and love. Is it really so difficult to believe that we are all only a part of the Truth, a part of the process of the life of the Body, and that “for now we see in a mirror darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12)?
I believe that we Christians, we true, born-again Christians—will never experience unity until we are enabled by our own strength in Christ to admit the validity of another’s position in the Body even though it differs from our own. I believe that it is through this liberty that we discover a oneness of mind in the Spirit, and that through this oneness we finally experience true love one for another. I believe that all this happens because God does allow an individualist the freedom to be newly unique when he is baptized by the Spirit into that One Body of Christ!
