Courageous Diversity

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9

Why can't we all get along,
Setting our differences aside?
God want us to be as one,
But Satan wants to divide.

In the first century
All Christians were in one accord,
Sharing all they had and
Together worshipping the Lord.

Through the years our differences
Shifted our focus away
From what matters most to God
To having it our way.

We need to flip that focus
To right what we have wrong;
Changing other to together,
Assuring we all belong.

Love is the key to changing,
Embracing each other's diversity.
One body with different parts
Working in unity.

We cannot love without forgiveness,
But that's difficult to do.
Only through God's power
Can His love break through.

Courageous diversity isn't easy,
But it's worth the cost.
When we reach out to an other,
We unite what we had lost. 

My church just went through a sermon series on Courageous Diversity. It’s one of my church’s core values: We intentionally pursue, respect, and honor differences of culture, experience, thought, opinions, age, and ethnicity by sacrificing our personal comfort. This is easily said than done! But, I’ve seen our church become much more diverse than when I started attending 20 years ago. Being a diverse church has benefits as well as challenges. In a diverse community, we are exposed to people that may not otherwise be in our inner circle. It gives us a better understanding of those different from us in all walks of life as mentioned above. But, it’s challenging as well, because it draws us out of our comfort zone. However, if we are willing to step forward, we unite as a community and strengthen our faith. God intended for us to live united. (After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9)

The early Christian church started out united. (Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:5) They had differences, but they all believed in Jesus. This is what united them. Their differences didn’t get in the way. Where we might see differences as a division, God uses our differences to bring us together. It’s much like the ingredients in a recipe. Each ingredient by itself is tasty but different than all the other ingredients. But when they are combined, they become united into something even better! An apple is tasty, but in a pie it’s even better! So it is with people. We are better together! (For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5)

Somewhere along the way, differences started to separate the church. Theologies started forming that differed in the church as a whole. The core belief of Jesus as the Messiah didn’t change, but what people thought about God and what He created and how all these things work together began to separate Christians. But, this division doesn’t have to remain. Many of these differences are dogma. They don’t impact the bottom line: Jesus is the Son of the living God, come to save our souls. We’re more the same than we are different in our beliefs. We can agree to disagree on these fine points and still be in unity with one another. One example is baptism. Some churches believe in emersion, while others believe in sprinkling. I may step on some people’s toes here, but the main point is the act of publicly professing your faith, not how it’s done. I believe God is more interested in our vow of faith to Him than how much water was used in the process. (So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27)

Flipping our train of thought from us vs them to us as one is hard! The key to that change is loving others as we love ourselves. (For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14) We can’t do that on our own though. Only God can change our hearts to see others through His eyes. Ask God to show you when you’re judging someone as different in a negative way. Accept this uncomfortable revelation and make a different choice. It can be as simple as not engaging your train of thought or as bold as talking to this person. Let God lead.

Forgiveness is another barrier that separates us. Not only has it divided countries, states, communities, and churches, but it’s divided friends and families. Harboring resentment is physically and emotionally unhealthy. Hurt people, hurt people. But if we allow God to mend our hurts so we can extend forgiveness, it will have a ripple affect on those around us. (Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32)

When we make an effort to reach across the aisle, we build bridges instead of walls. Our perspective changes when we walk in someone else’s shoes. Give it a try! We may not be able to change the world, but we can make a difference in the world around us.

Lord, thank you for creating each of us in our own unique way. Give me eyes to see others as You see them. Help me to be one who unites instead of divides. Amen