When you think about it, the very concept of unity requires diversity. If we're not different, we can't be unified; the best we can be is the same. And if you and I are the same, one of us isn't essential.
Scripture is pretty clear that we're all essential to what God's doing. God calls us to unity of purpose (growing towards maturity), which should reflect our already existing unity in Christ.
Our culture has a value on sameness - uniformity rather than unity. If you don't believe me, read the facebook statuses of people tonight during the presidential debate. If you don't agree with them and support their candidate, you're evil and don't love your country. They want you to be the same as them. If you're not, there must be something wrong with you.
Scripture celebrates diversity - not in our understanding of Truth, but in matters of who we are created to be. It's okay for someone to serve God in a different way than I serve Him (so long as they're serving the true God, of course). It's okay for someone to have different gifts, talents, and abilities. It's okay for them to use those gifts in a different way than I use mine. It's okay for us to be different - our differences are essential to our unity.
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