Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14) revolutionizes how we view
both unity and diversity in the church. Like a physical body, each part is different yet
essential, independent yet interconnected. This image confronts both our tendency toward individualism (“I don’t need the church”)and our
pressure toward uniformity(“everyone should
serve like I do”). In God’s design, diversity strengthens rather than threatens unity.