Diversity

Diversity

Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…

One of the catch words we hear in our post-modern culture is the word “diversity.” Unfortunately, that word has also crept unawares into the Church. Recently I saw where one prominent pastor said, “The more diverse the Church becomes the more holy it will be,” but as popular as diversity is in the world today Scripture has very little to say about it. There are a few occasions in which the book of Revelation mentions people of every nation, tribe, and tongue standing before the throne of God, but in each case that diversity of people is standing before the throne despite their diversity, not because of it. Yes, people of all nations, races, and languages will stand before the throne of God, but they will be standing there because of their agreement not their differences.

You see, the word “diversity” is a negative word, not a positive one. Its origins come from a Latin word meaning to separate, to split, even to divorce. It is our diversity that separates us from one another. We are divided by nationality, skin color, and even our varied languages. Diversity has no power to unify people, and it certainly doesn’t make us more holy. When people of every nation, tribe, and tongue stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb it will be their sameness that brings them there not their differences.

What is it that all the people in Heaven will have in common? They will all have a like faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Nobody in Heaven will be thinking about their nationality, race, or language. They will be united in their praise of the Lamb. It’s time for the church to stop celebrating diversity and start celebrating unity. We are to be of one mind, one spirit, and one faith. We are to be of one accord, to be in Christ. There is no room for division in the Lord’s house. Instead of boasting about diversity the Lord would much rather hear us boasting about unity. Diversity divides us, but faith in Jesus Christ brings a diversity of people together into one unified body called the Church.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie