Karl Barth’s 1967 Letter

On September 29, 1967, Swiss theologian Karl Barth (1886–1968) wrote a line both candid and pastoral: “God has very different people who like one another to different degrees.” Near the end of his life in Basel, after decades of teaching and writing, Barth offered a reminder suited for ordinary congregations as much as for scholars: Christians are not gathered because they naturally fit together, but because God calls them together.

The Man and the Moment

Barth had lived through two world wars and the upheavals that tested Europe’s churches. He is remembered for urging believers to listen first to God’s Word rather than to the changing spirit of the age. His public resistance to Nazi claims over the church showed a kind of moral courage—standing firm when it cost reputation and safety. That steadiness gives weight to his 1967 observation: unity is not sentimental. It is a gift the Lord sustains among real people with real differences.

Unity Beyond Temperament

Barth’s sentence cuts through unrealistic expectations. The church is one family in Christ, yet personalities, backgrounds, and preferences vary widely. Scripture prepares believers for this: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Unity is not the absence of friction; it is faithfulness in the midst of it, refusing to let irritation become contempt.

Practicing Patient Love

Barth’s wisdom encourages humble realism: some relationships will feel easy, others will require prayerful endurance. The call is not to pretend affection, but to pursue honest love. “Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). Such forgiveness is quiet heroism—dying to self, resisting bitterness, and choosing peace when pride wants victory.

Lasting Significance

In a time when factions form quickly, Barth’s line points back to God’s gracious initiative. The Lord knits together believers who are unlike each other, teaching them to honor truth, speak with charity, and persevere in fellowship—trusting that the church’s unity rests not on perfect harmony, but on Christ’s faithful hold on His people.