UNITY ≠ UNIFORMITY

Uniformity and unity are not at all the same thing. According to Random House Dictionary, 2006, uniformity and unity are as follows:

u·ni·form·i·ty /ˌyunəˈfɔrmɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[yoo-nuh-fawr-mi-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties. 1. the state or quality of being uniform; overall sameness, homogeneity, or regularity: uniformity of style.
2. something uniform.
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[Origin: 1400–50; late ME uniformite < MF uniformite < LL ūnifōrmitās, equiv. to L ūnifōrm(is) uniform + -itās -ity]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

u·ni·ty /ˈyunɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[yoo-ni-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties. 1. the state of being one; oneness.
2. a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one.
3. the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification.

In short, uniformity is when all the parts are a cookie cutter copy of each other, whereas, unity is the homogenizing of parts into a whole.

Never will you find true uniformity among people because we are so vastly different depending on our background, environment, socioeconomic status, race, educational diversity, cultural diversification, etc...

Unity on the other hand is taking what we have and blending it together toward a common purpose and goal in order to achieve maximum success. My son is the bass singer for a group name "freeWAY" (formerly known as the WAY quartet). Each young man's voice is so uniquely different from the other; you wonder how could they possibly blend these four voices. It is really quite simple! Each man seeks to blend with the other and form one harmonious sound. Each one will get his chance to solo and show off his vocal talent and uniqueness, but for the homogeneity of the group, they choose to lay aside personal preferences for the sake of the whole.

With regard to the Bible, God has certain absolutes! No one ever crossed those without getting God's attention, oft times with consequences. With regard to these points, God expects conformity. No group will ever see eye to eye on all their convictions, however, biblical principles are not convictions, they are mandates. It is time we guard our own convictions but meld our spirits into a unity of the brethren. I heard a man once preach a message that we need to "Save the Bean Patch", referring to guarding our principles. I agree! Yet, we need to save the bean patch, even if our brother is not growing the same beans as I am! I shouldn't go around trying to pull out his beans because he is not growing the exact same variety as mine. Isn't his bean patch also important? I am in no way eluding to the compromise of God's message of Oneness, Holiness or Sanctification. Simply stated, even though we do not see eye to eye on every point, if our biblical message is the same, aren't we brethren, even without uniformity, but with unity?

Am I diluting what I believe by doing this? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I am "...endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace... until we all come to the unity of the faith..." Ephesians 4:3,13