Reconciling Diversity

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"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

A couple of years ago, I became aware of a Christian school that was instituting a Diversity Committee, partially in response to the recent events of the summer of 2020 (e.g., BLM movement). Red flags immediately flew up in my mind: I know the word "diversity" is catchy today and it seems to signal wisdom - but wait.

The apostle Paul makes it painfully clear in Galatians (and Ephesians and other places) that God only recognizes two groups of people in his world: the Jew and the Gentile. That is, the believer and the unbeliever. Christ's church is uniquely made-up of people with many different interests, giftings, vocations, ethnicities, incomes, etc. YET they share the common bond of the Holy Spirit! Paul makes it clear that even the sharp divisions of the ancient world between male and female have been torn down because of Christ! Likewise, divisions between skin color are equally abolished!

To label various groups as diverse is ridiculous. To be a human being is to be diverse. You will find diversity between members of the same family and you will find diversity even in one's own "group." For instance, not every white person shares the same culture. Some hunt, some don't; some play sports, some watch movies; some do this, some do that. Think about it like this: as a church, we are full of diversity. We might not be friends with one another apart from Christ, because we are so diverse in our interests, socio-economics, and hobbies. YET we are one unified church because of our common, unifying, life-altering bond in Christ!

In short, I want you to be aware that many Christians today are being swept up in the false gospels of racial reconciliation, cultural diversity, and the like; but we are a church who knows the truth. The only good news for the salvation of people, regardless of color, is Christ! The only true way to show love to others is through the gospel of Christ, which tears down dividing walls of hatred and anger and creates peace instead. No Christian organization needs to adopt any other sort of program today. We already have the best one: the gospel!

"For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God..." (Ephesians 2:18-19).