Have you noticed…the other people all around you at church? In all likely hood they look a lot like you and me. And not only do they probably look a lot like you and me, they probably act, talk, and like the same music as you and me. To be quite blunt (not that I am normally otherwise) people like to go to church with other people who are most like themselves. People of similar socio-economic status and race like attending church together. This transcends all classes and racial groups. We say we are the church, yet we don’t seem to like diversity, at least not in our local church on Sunday. We say we love diversity in the kingdom, but we just don’t like it in “our” church. Now, of course this is not true of every church, but it is true of my church. I love my church, we have a great pastor, staff, and body, but we lack diversity. I mentioned this fact to our pastor recently in a small group meeting I was invited to attend. I don’t like the fact that middle-class Whites, upper class African-American’s, or Hispanic immigrants find it more satisfying to worship with those they most closely identify with than others. How do I say this rightly…this is not being done in the Spirit of Christ, but the anti-Christ. I am not saying that you and I are intentionally doing the work of satan. I am however saying that you and I are sharing in the same mindset and desire as satan when we cling to the familiar and resent diversity. We would all do well to remember that though now redeemed, we once were son’s of Satan, and still are capable of sinful acts against a righteous and holy God. This sinfulness is due to the fact that while born again and sin no longer controls us, we still struggle with and engage in sinful acts of defiance against God because we are sinners by birth. John Piper uses imagery of a dragon, while the dragon (our sinful nature) has been slain and no longer controls us, he is still capable of doing great damage to ourselves as well as others by flaring up and breathing fire. Let’s call our lack of diversity what it is…sinful. The church much more resembles a country club, a college sorority, or prefered social group who are keen on finding people who like themselves have “common interests and goals”, or are “like-minded”. All just run around language for, I like you because you act and look like me. The church of all instructions here on earth should be setting the standard when it comes to diversity of all kinds. And, lets not even talk about cowboy, biker, or online churches. The church at least Biblically looks a whole lot different from the churches I see and attend every week. Please don’t think I am speaking from a lofty place or ivory tower. I am trying to figure this out as I hope you are. I pray as an initial step you will take at look at your local church and consider the makeup of the congregation. Then, look at your community and begin to pray and think about ways to bring everyone together in the name of Christ. Lastly, talk to your pastor and share with him your desire for a more diverse local body and ask him how to effectively reach out to those who don’t look and act like most in your church. And if you like your church just the way it is, with all the people who are a lot like you…I fear we may not meet again on the other side where the full body will dwell in perfection with Christ our savior. All nations will be there, might as well get a head start on worshiping Christ togethor forever.
Galatians 3:28
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
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