Unity, Not Uniformity

One of the most helpful five dollar words I learned during my training to be a pastor was the word “adiaphora.” It means “indifferent things,” and it’s used in Lutheran circles to talk about everything that isn’t central to our salvation. In other words, we can disagree about the color of the carpet or what music to use in the worship service, because those aren’t necessary parts of being saved by grace through faith. We are about unity, not uniformity.

That’s an important distinction in our world where there are so many either-or choices, and there’s such a temptation to put people in boxes with clear, simple labels. Our understanding of adiaphora is, in part, a reminder that we can disagree and still see one another as a beloved child of God.

Adiaphora also means that we can value and love our traditions and recognize at the same time that they’re not the end all, be all of what it means to be a Christian. Some of us love organ music, and some of us love Christian contemporary music. There is enough room in the tent of Christianity for all of us. Adiaphora helps us remember that the words and rituals we find comforting are good, but they’re not the only way to faithfully respond to God’s love, forgiveness, and care.

What traditions or rituals do you find great meaning in? What questions come up for you when you encounter a ritual or tradition you’re not familiar with?

May our hearts be open to see and appreciate the adiaphora that helps give us meaning and shape our lives. May our hearts be equally open to curiosity and wonder when we encounter the unfamiliar. Amen.