Unity and Diversity in Truth- Culturology

The book of Romans speaks of the universe as the created order which God displays and reveals Himself to His creation. It has often been the prerogative of theologians to stress that the teaching of Romans is that which is called natural revelation, in contrast to special revelation. Natural revelation, it is said, is the revelation of God which is manifest and accessible to all, regardless of whether someone has saving knowledge of God. One could say, natural revelation is the truth of God’s existence, but special revelation is needed to dive deeper into the truths such as atonement, and even the Trinitarian personhood of the Godhead. 

However, it is not a necessary consequence that natural revelation leads mankind short of a deeper knowledge of who God is. Take for example the passage in Romans 1 which is the predominant conversation piece in natural revelation: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1.20). This passage emphasizes that God’s creation reveal not only the fact of His existence but even his divine nature. 

Working forward from this truth, consider the notion of the universe itself. The universe is so named because it represents a convergence of unity and diversity. If the creation is a display of unity and diversity together, does not the principle in Romans 1 imply that this display of unity and diversity in creation is also a display of the unity and diversity in the Creator? If so, the conclusion that God is both unity and diversity is something revealed to man in natural revelation. Of course, this notion of unity and diversity in God is perfectly displayed in Trinitarian theology- that God is one in essence (unity) and three in persons (diversity).

However, God is not only the highest example of unity and diversity; He is also the greatest representation of unity and diversity. This is because the created order which is meant to display the wonder and glory of God is tainted by sin. And while the wonder and glory of God is not lost in the unity and diversity of His created order, it is often distorted. As such, creation often displays diversity with a notable absence of unity. In the Godhead, there is never the absence of unity but rather, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit are always operating in absolute unity, though they are diverse persons. 

What then does this mean for Christians in attempting to display a proper balance of unity and diversity in churches and as a witness to the world? A helpful passage to consider is Galatians 3:27-29, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise”. Of course the context of this passage is important, for Paul is dealing with various Gentile Christians scattered throughout Galatia and writing to them about their equal standing with God as Abraham’s offspring, just like the ethnic Jews. His point is to denounce the notion that God shows partiality in ethnicity, social class, and gender. Rather, Christian identity is founded upon belonging to Jesus Christ. 

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