Ways Of Spirit: Unity, Not Conformity

Rev. Erik Swanson
June 21, 2026

One of the highlights of my recent week off was watching the NBA Finals. As many people know, I’m a huge basketball fan, and I was especially struck by the teamwork I saw. One team that impressed me was the New York Knicks. What stood out was not that all the players were the same, but that they were very different from one another. Jalen Brunson, often criticized for being undersized, became a star scorer. Josh Hart contributed through relentless hustle and rebounding. Mitchell Robinson excelled defensively despite struggles at the free-throw line. Even the role players made important contributions. Each player had unique gifts, yet together they functioned as one unified team.

Unity, Not Conformity – Each Of Us Is Unique

That image reminds me of something important about the life of faith. A few weeks ago, I spoke about the Trinity and how God is fundamentally relational. Today I want to explore a related idea: the Spirit calls us to unity, not conformity. Too often throughout Christian history, the church has confused these two concepts. Since the days of Constantine, there has often been pressure for people to believe the same things, say the same words, and fit into a prescribed mold in order to belong. Yet this ignores a fundamental truth: God created each of us uniquely. We are not identical, nor were we ever meant to be.

The Spirit Bridges Differences

The Pentecost story beautifully illustrates this reality. People from many nations, cultures, and languages gathered together and experienced the Spirit. The miracle was not that everyone suddenly spoke the same language. Rather, they were able to hear and understand one another while remaining distinct. Their differences were not erased; instead, the Spirit bridged those differences. In many ways, Pentecost feels like a reversal of the Tower of Babel. Where Babel divided humanity, the Spirit brought people together without demanding uniformity.

Being A Radically Inclusive Community

This is why I believe the Spirit calls us into a radically inclusive community. Our differences enrich us rather than threaten us. Diversity broadens our understanding and deepens our relationships. Unfortunately, human systems often move in the opposite direction. Juneteenth reminds us of one painful example. Slavery and racism represented a terrible effort to dehumanize people and force conformity to a system built on privilege and exclusion. Such systems divide rather than unite and stand in direct opposition to the freedom and dignity that the Spirit desires for all people.

Recognizing Our Shared Humanity

Even today, we continue to see efforts to divide people based on race, culture, politics, religion, or identity. I struggle to understand how anyone can claim spirituality while condemning entire groups of people. The Spirit continually invites us to recognize our shared humanity and interconnectedness. My liberation is connected to yours. Your freedom is connected to the freedom of people across our city, our nation, and the world. We are bound together in ways far deeper than our differences.

Honoring Our Uniqueness And Sacred Bond

I believe the Spirit calls us to rediscover the divine image present in every person. If we could truly see the holiness within one another, our divisions would begin to fade. We would draw closer together and move toward the beloved community that God desires. True unity is not about forcing agreement or demanding conformity. It is about honoring our uniqueness while recognizing the sacred bond we share. My prayer is that the Spirit continues to guide us into greater openness, deeper compassion, and a richer appreciation of the diversity that makes our communities whole. Amen.